Roadworks at a Letchworth roundabout have been causing “chaos” for drivers as essential repairs to gas mains in Wilbury Road are being carried out.

The Comet has received reports that this work has been halted since the weekend, which Cadent – the company carrying out the work – has confirmed is due to a missing part that is needed.

This meant that the scene was left unmanned for a time.

Andi Moore, who lives on the Grange Estate, told the Comet: “It really shows you how much traffic goes through there. It’s a busy roundabout but you usually only have to queue behind a couple of cars.

“It’s the main route on and off the Grange Estate. With the traffic lights going four ways you don’t have very long and you can only get about five or six cars through if they’re quick – so you’re waiting for around five or 10 minutes.

“In the grand scheme of things, if they are going to build another 1,000 houses, it’s going to cause chaos.”

Traffic implications were among many issues discussed at Monday’s North Herts Local Plan hearings. If the plan is approved, an additional 900 homes will be built north of the Grange Estate,

A Cadent spokesman said: “We have been carrying out essential repairs to gas mains in Wilbury Road near to the junction with Norton Way North.

“To enable the work to be done safely, we’ve been using multiway traffic lights. We’re sorry for any inconvenience people may have experienced as a result.

“This essential work must be carried out to help ensure safe and reliable gas supplies for cooking and heating are maintained in the area and we have been doing all we can to ensure the necessary work is completed as soon as possible.

“However, the repair was a complex job requiring the damaged section of gas main to be encased in a specially manufactured shell, which had to be ordered and shipped from a supplier.

“While we were waiting for the shell to arrive, our engineers were despatched to deal with other incidents – which may explain why on occasions people may not have seen engineers on site.

“The shell was fitted and another leak which was discovered which was also repaired.

“Repairs are now complete and we asked our subcontractors to reinstate the road as soon as possible. All being well this should be completed before February 14.”