LABOUR councillors in Dursley have welcomed the decision not to push ahead with controversial plans to replace a mini-roundabout in the town with traffic lights.

A public meeting was held in the town earlier this year to discuss the proposal which formed part of a planning application for a 450-home development in Cam.

As part of a series of traffic mitigation measures put forward with the application, the roundabout at Sandpits was earmarked for replacement.

The meeting, organised by Dursley Town Council, was attended by dozens of members of the public with the majority opposing the scheme.

As part of outline planning permission for the Cam development on Tuesday, traffic lights at the junction were shelved unless they were deemed necessary under certain circumstances following a suggestion by Cllr Steve Lydon.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: “This is a victory for democracy and common sense.

“Local people quite clearly opposed putting these unnecessary lights in place and I’m glad the council listened to their concerns.”

Other alternatives will now be considered, providing they cost the same or less than the traffic lights proposals, before traffic lights were pursued at the junction of Dursley Road and A4135.

Cllr Doina Cornell said: “This is great news. Traders in Dursley feared the inevitable delays and queues caused by the lights would have driven their customers out of town to do their shopping elsewhere.”

Cllr Alison Hayward said: “There’s no evidence that people moving into homes in Box Road would drive through Dursley every morning and evening, so this is absolutely the right decision.”