PATIENCE was wearing thin as commuters, patients, diners and hotel guests were caught up in ‘gridlock Taunton’ a decade ago.

The County Gazette brought readers the “latest on traffic mayhem” in the town on Thursday, May 8, 2014 as the problems reached their peak.

Our reporters Phil Hill and Sam Jones wrote: “We’re told it’s caused by work on a new road, streets being dug up to replace rusting water mains and traffic lights changing too quickly – but we’re promised it’s only temporary and things will improve.

“Work on the £22 million Northern Inner Distributor Road linking Staplegrove Road at Chip Lane and Priory Avenue via Firepool should end early next year.

“Wessex Water’s scheme renewing mains between Upper High Street and Mary Street – which has stopped traffic turning right into The Crescent – will take another six weeks.”

But that was little consolation for Craig Moore of Green4Go driving school, who said staff had to be selective about their routes.

“There are areas of Taunton we can’t touch,” said Mr Moore, who saw drivers beating tailbacks with illegal manoeuvres.

“Traffic’s backed up on the Third Way because the traffic light sequence doesn’t work by Pizza Express; the work on the new roundabout at Wickes seems to flow fairly well; but a one-way system in Priory Avenue next week will cause problems.

“Students are paying £20 to be stuck in jams – one lesson on Tuesday, we didn’t move for 25 minutes.

“I don’t know how anybody could have planned everything at once. It’s frustrating and someone should look at it coming into the summer.”

Somerset County Gazette: Traffic was ground to a halt as several schemes were under way at once.Traffic was ground to a halt as several schemes were under way at once. (Image: Archive)

Guy Patey, practice manager at St James Medical Centre, said patients stuck in traffic should call the surgery to put back their appointments.

He added: “At periods of greatest demand, this may not be possible, resulting in the need to re-book. “Doctors and staff also experience inconvenience resulting from traffic delays, most notably when undertaking home visits for patients.”

And some procedures at Musgrove Park Hospital were delayed as patients arrived late.

Kit Chapman, of The Castle Hotel and Brazz, said: “It took me 45 minutes on Tuesday afternoon to get out of Taunton.

“People arrive late. It affects business as people don’t want to go near the town centre.

“We’ve had cancellations from diners and guests.”

A Somerset County Council spokesman said work on the Northern Inner Distributor Road was “going well” and once complete would help relieve town centre traffic – “something we’re sure will be welcomed by residents and drivers,” he said.

Phil Luxton, Wessex Water’s project manager for the £16million Clean and Clear operation to upgrade ageing mains, said: “We understand work is taking place within a busy section of the town and ask that people are patient while we complete the work as quickly as possible.”