A SENIOR police officer has called for an end to the traffic hell at Handy Cross Roundabout.

Inspector Martin Bolton, of Marlow Police, said that lives are being put at risk across the district every time officers are called to the traffic black spot.

He explained: "In the worst case scenario this means that lives could be on the line. It puts us in a position that we might not be able to respond as quickly to emergency calls."

Insp Bolton's comments come in the wake of Tuesday morning's gridlock when the traffic lights on the Cressex roundabout failed just after 7am.

Traffic was snarled-up all across the area.

Vehicles were at a standstill on the M40 northbound to junction three and southbound to junction six. Movement into High Wycombe was also brought to a virtual standstill.

The chaos took more than four hours to clear.

Insp Bolton said each time a problem occurs at the roundabout:

Between eight and nine police officers are taken away from their normal duties, at a cost of at least £11.33 per hour

A police helicopter is launched to monitor the situation

Up to six police vehicles have to attend the scene

Between three and five hours of police time is lost each time a traffic snarl occurs.

Insp Bolton said the costly problem was on the increase.

"I am in the process of calculating how much it costs every time we have to sort Handy Cross traffic out.

"The problem with Handy Cross seems to be getting worse because of the increase in volume of traffic and we are having serious problems there at least once a week.

"Part of the problem is caused by drivers themselves who jump the lights and leave the roundabout clogged with traffic."

Insp Bolton said he was planning to meet with The Highways Agency, which is responsible for Handy Cross, in the next few weeks in the hope of finding a solution to the problem.

See Midweek on Tuesday for an in-depth look at the peril of Handy Cross

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.