ROADWORKS are a necessary evil and will at times overrun.

But, like any mistake, it is not the actual error you make but how you respond that is the true test.

Oxfordshire County Council has been found very much failing over the debacle near the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on Thursday night.

The work was obviously needed and you can’t blame the work crew for running over time.

But something went seriously wrong with traffic control.

Some motorists have complained of being trapped in the hospital car park for three hours.

It would have impeded patients attending appointments and staff trying to get to and from work.

And, with the charges at the JR, who can afford being stuck there any longer than necessary?

The police might want to review their decision that it wasn’t a matter to involve themselves in.

This was a serious incident that could have been helped with an officer doing a bit of old-fashioned traffic directing – although we have to admit it was probably, not as pressing as chasing a family with a helicopter because they’d ‘stolen’ some twigs.