PART-TIME traffic lights, like those at Mannington Roundabout, could be rolled out across Swindon as the results have proved positive during a trial period.

Under the scheme, which has been running for two years, traffic lights at the pivotal roundabout are turned off at non-peak times of the day in a bid to keep queues and journey times down.

Data collected by Swindon Council point to success during the trial, and this may allow it to be implemented at other problem junctions.

The proposed extension to Thamesdown Drive, if successful, would also be a factor in reducing the traffic flow through Mannington.

Coun Jim Robbins, (Lab, Mannington and Western), said: “The Thamesdown Barnfield extension is designed to take a lot of the pressure off Meadway Road and other places around Swindon which are really struggling.

“Anything that can relieve pressure is something we are interested in and are fighting for.

“It will have a big impact on all of the road junctions including Mannington Roundabout. The plan was to keep the roundabout with the lights on and to see if it can relieve some of the pressure. There may be plans to extend the scheme to other roundabouts in the town.

“The evidence from the Mannington Roundabout shows that waiting times have decreased and journey times have been reduced.

“If a car is stationary for more than 26 seconds it will trigger the lights to come on. That way they will only come on during peak periods. We are all broadly in favour of it and want to keep the trial running.

“The council are looking to keep them there on a permanent basis. Because we have brought the technology in for Mannington we could now extend that around the town to see if they can help situations elsewhere.”

But there are still some concerns about the dangers of having part-time lights on a busy roundabout.

Nick Lamkin, 62, of The Prinnels, said: “When they switch themselves off it takes people by surprise. I saw one girl coming up to the lights when suddenly they disappeared and she panicked and stopped.

“In the mornings it will never work with the volume of traffic coming from Wootton Bassett. When it is busy as soon as you have got a green light there is still someone in front of you from another queue.

“I just avoid it as much as I can. It simply was not designed for that amount of traffic.

“But to be honest they are better than they used to be. They were set to make you stop but since they changed it to keep traffic moving it is a lot safer.

“It is stopped traffic that bothers me because it is very dangerous but since they have changed it there have not been any problems.”

After promising results, a full road safety review of the lights on the roundabout took place last year and the data became available in March.

However, a Swindon Council spokesman said yesterday that no funding has been identified that would allow it to extend the scheme.