A FOREST councillor is mounting a campaign to fix one of the area's worst traffic hotspots.

Cllr Brian Robinson (Con, Mitcheldean and Drybrook) has written to the Chair of Gloucestershire's Local Transport Board, Cllr Vernon Smith, demanding urgent action on the A40 hatch markings at Highnam Lodge.

The hatch markings reduced the road from two lanes to one in order to protect drivers coming out of Highnam lodge. The markings narrow the road in a key congestion area, adding to jams for Forest people heading in to Gloucester and Cheltenham.

The road is the responsibility of the Highways Agency, rather than Gloucestershire County Council.

Cllr Robinson said: "The issue of the hatch markings at Highnam Lodge on the A40 has been a long-running annoyance to motorists in the Forest of Dean. For the sake of one residence, one of the most important and frequently congested roads in our area is choked in half. This can only seriously exacerbate the jams and delays that already cause much concern to people from this area.

"I recognise that this was the fault of the Highways Agency under the previous government, but it needs action now to fix the problem. I have written to the Cabinet member for Highways at the County Council asking him to consider how these hatch markings could be removed to get the road fully open again."

Cllr Smith, cabinet member for highways at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "I've received a letter from Cllr Brian Robinson about the hatch markings on the A40 at Highnam. I'm happy to look into the concerns he's raised and how we can improve journeys for those who commute from the Forest of Dean."

A Littledean commuter added: "It's about time something was done with that stretch of road as it gets so busy in the morning as traffic from the A48 and A40 meet on the roundabout. I remember when the hatch markings were taken away a few years ago it helped reduce congestion significantly."

Cllr Robinson has also set-up an online petition. Search for A40 hatch markings on www. change.org