A key roundabout into Marlow that is a “perennial source of delays” for drivers could face a major overhaul as councillors look at ways to cut congestion.

Traffic lights could be introduced at the Westhorpe Interchange – also known as Marlow roundabout at the entrance of the town – in a bid to cut traffic, but the move has been criticised by councillors who represent the area.

A number of options are currently being considered by Wycombe District Council along with Bucks County Council, Highways England and the BTVLEP as part of a £1.5 million project to ease congestion - including signalisation of the main roundabout or creating a dedicated slip lane off the A404 straight into Globe Business Park.

Highways England is also considering ways to create better access to Parkway which could possibly include restrictions for HGVs.

An update on the plans, including public consultation, was expected from Highways England in March this year, but it has yet to be received by Wycombe District Council, it was confirmed at a meeting on the improvement and review committee on Wednesday night.

Cllr John Savage, who represents the Flackwell Heath and Little Marlow ward, said introducing traffic lights “worried” him.

He said: “It is a very challenging area, particularly at busy times coming in and out of the business park but not only that, coming off the A404, there are numerous incidents – not necessarily reported – including slamming on of brakes, because people just won’t wait, quite frankly. They don’t observe the current rules and regulations, including giving way.

“It worries me that if you start introducing traffic lights to these situations it makes it worse. It stops the traffic and I notice some people don’t observe red traffic lights anyway. I don’t know what the experts can come up with but there must be something better than traffic lights.  

“Traffic lights don’t cure every ill and often they cause more problems than they are worth. I'm really concerned about traffic lights. If that was the case, I would say don’t bother and just leave it as it is.”

Cllr Alex Collingwood, representing Marlow North and West, agreed that traffic lights are “not necessarily the way forward”, while Cllr Roger Wilson suggested that there could be part time signals put in place at rush hour.

He said: “I think a large amount of the problems are caused because traffic is trying to get into Marlow and again, the roundabout at Wiltshire Road is causing problems and it backs up all the traffic onto the A404. I have been suggesting that they should have some part time traffic lights to just allow the free flow of traffic.”

John Callaghan, transport and environment officer at Wycombe District Council said the county council has been “orthodox” in its use of part-time traffic signals but he would feed back the suggestions.

He said: “I do think traffic lights have their place, just look at Handy Cross Roundabout. It is the bane of our lives but it copes with an enormous volume of traffic.

“We do not tend to use them round here because I think the general opinion is that it creates confusion and drivers don’t know what to do or when they switch on.”