ROAD works, closures and early morning trains leading to level crossing gates being closed has caused grid lock in Bramley, say residents.

Motorists have complained that work at one end of the village’s main road, tied in with the level crossing being closed for 32 minutes per hour, has increased some journey times by more than an hour.

Work being carried out at the junctions of Cufaude Lane and The Street is causing traffic to come to a standstill in the village at peak times.

Adding to this, Oliver’s Lane at the other end of the village has been closed for three months due to constant flooding problems, causing congestion near Bramley Church of England Primary School. 

Richard Taylor, who lives in Sherfield-on-Loddon, told The Gazette that his usual 15 minute journey from his house through Bramley has been taking up to an hour and 20 minutes. 

He said: “It can sometimes be a little delayed due to the level crossing but recently it has been unbearable.

“What has been frustrating is every time I have passed the road works there is never any work men there, it just seems to be causing problems for drivers.” 

Joe Sampson, who lives in Longbridge Road, said trying to get his daughter to the Priory School in Pamber End has been a “nightmare”. 

He said: “She was meant to go to an early morning club the other week, but she was late because it took us nearly half-an-hour just to get out of our road.” 

Bramley and Sherfield ward councillor Nick Robinson said the level crossing essentially cuts the village in half for large periods of the day. 

He said: “People are using the back roads, which are single carriageway roads and not meant for the volume of traffic which they take, which is just adding to the problem. 

“With an extra 300 houses set to be built in Bramley, the problem is only going to get worse.” 

A spokesperson from Hampshire Country Council said the drainage work in Oliver’s Lane will be resolved once an agreement with the land owner has been reached to finish the work.

The BT fibre work being carried out at the top of Cafaude Lane is due to finish within the next week.