I spent much of my time at the beginning of last week trying to find ways with Oxfordshire County Council officers to overcome the new delays caused by the temporary roadworks in Marcham Road, Abingdon.

While Abingdon waits for the county council to sort out the implementation of the Scoot traffic system in the centre of Abingdon, I would have expected extra efforts to avoid causing any more delays.

The roadworks out of town started and immediately caused severe delays in the town centre.

Extra early warning signs did appear later, but the situation highlighted again the ongoing need for an alternative route to the A34 south and to the west from Abingdon.

We need a full interchange at Lodge Hill for traffic to and from the A34 south.

This would reduce traffic from the north and east areas going through the town by providing an alternative route.

At the moment, all traffic wanting to go south or west has to go along Marcham Road and through the roadworks.

The full Lodge Hill interchange remains one of the top priorities for Abingdon Town Council.

If the county council, the highways authority for Oxfordshire, is serious about sorting out the traffic problems - and Ian Hudspeth, the council's cabinet member for transport, assures me staff are working hard on this - it should also be supporting the town on the Lodge Hill issue, as well and pursuing the Highways Agency at every opportunity.

LESLEY LEGGE (Councillor) Abingdon East Division Oxfordshire County Council