COMMUTERS travelling by road into the north of Stevenage this morning (Monday) during rush hour were hit by long delays. Hertfordshire County Council, supported by the police, carried out a traffic census on Hitchin Road, close to the John Henry Newman Sc

COMMUTERS travelling by road into the north of Stevenage this morning (Monday) during rush hour were hit by long delays.

Hertfordshire County Council, supported by the police, carried out a traffic census on Hitchin Road, close to the John Henry Newman School.

Because traffic had to slow down it caused a major tailback of vehicles to the roundabout at Coreys Mill leaving traffic on the A602 bumper to bumper all the way back to Hitchin.

The operation also caused problems on the AI(M) with the northbound carriageway at junction 8 becoming blocked with tailbacks almost as far as Welwyn and the carriageway that leads to the slip road at junction 8 south also became heavily congested with traffic queuing back to Letchworth Gate.

A police spokesman said: "Hertfordshire Police were assisting Hertfordshire County Council with pulling over vehicles during a traffic survey this morning. The survey was commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council."

Angry Comet reader Pete Haine from Stotfold emailed us saying: "So who's to blame for arranging a traffic census on a Monday morning on the main route into Stevenage, causing miles of tailbacks on the A1(M)?

"My wife and I left home in Stotfold at 7.45am, expecting a journey of 20-25 minutes as usual. The traffic started tailing back on the A1(M) north of Letchworth Gate, and we eventually arrived at work at 9.45.

"Who knows how many man hours have been wasted this morning, let alone the waste of fuel.