A CAB DRIVER has blasted the renovated Gants Hill roundabout – just days after its official opening.

Black cab driver Steve Kenton, of Little Gearies, Gants Hill, says the half-mile journey from his home past the roundabout has become a regular half-hour journey.

“There is gridlock on the roundabout at peak times. This morning I left my home at 8.15 and I cleared the roundabout at 9.20. “I have had to change the way I come home from work because it is just ridiculous.”

His sentiment has been echoed by Gary Kinzler who lives in Chigwell and uses the roundabout daily to get to the Hornchurch-based cab firm he manages.

“It’s just not working.” Mr Kinzler said, “It does not seem to be tried and tested, it’s even worse now than when we had all the roadworks going on.

Mr Kenton says the traffic chaos is down to the knock-on effect of the new lights, which he says are out of sync with those at Beehive Lane and Redbridge roundabout.

He added that the roundabout, which was officially opened by London Mayor Boris Johnson, was ill-thought out and not working at all.

“It may be good for the businesses on there, but what about people who rely on driving to get to work and make a living?” Other people have contacted the Recorder complaining about the new scheme.

Cllr Keith Prince, leader of Redbridge Council said: “There probably is a case for putting yellow hatchings, and also to re-sync the traffic lights to ease the congestion.”

A Facebook page has been set up called I Hate Gants Hill Roadworks! and has seen frustrated motorists post comments about the renovated roundabout. One person said: “Can the group name be changed to, “TFL spent �7.2 million on Gants Hill Roundabout and messed it up big time.’”

But East London Bus Group, which runs two routes that pass through the roundabout, painted a very different story, saying the lights had improved the reliability and journey times of buses.

A spokesman for Transport for London would not confirm how many complaints had been received following the opening of the roundabout on October 1, but said:

“We are currently monitoring traffic flow through these new signals and will make any necessary changes that are required to the traffic signal timings to further improve traffic flow through the area.”