TRAFFIC lights which have sparked a storm of protest in a market town remain “almost universally unpopular” with local people, a campaign group has claimed.

Morpeth’s Lights Out campaign says a street survey carried out at the weekend showed 95% of those spoken to are opposed to the controversial traffic signals and want them removed.

Several members of the group conducted the survey in the town centre on Saturday, ahead of a consultation workshop which has been organised as part of an independent traffic review going on in Morpeth.

The Lights Out campaign was launched as a result of the public outcry over the installation of the lights and junction arrangement, next to the Telford Bridge, in April last year.

Almost 2,500 people have signed a petition calling for the removal of the lights and the reinstatement of the previous mini-roundabout at the key junction. Five months ago hundreds of people took to the streets on a march in support of the campaign, and hundreds have also packed into two public meetings held to discuss the controversy.

David Bawn, chairman of Morpeth Conservatives and a leading member of Lights Out, said Saturday’s survey had involved 221 people filling in forms. The result was 95% opposed the traffic lights, 1% were in favour of them and 4% expressed no preference.

He said: “This shows us that the strength of feeling is as strong as ever. Public anger remains unabated and the traffic lights remain almost universally unpopular in the town.

“We are not going to go away until they are removed.

“As a group we are happy to engage with the independent review being carried out, but our aim remains to have the lights removed.

“We have been told that the silent majority in Morpeth don’t mind the lights, but we are having great difficulty in finding that silent majority.”

Leading transport consultant Phil Jones, who has been commissioned by the county council to carry out the traffic and transport review, will hold a fact-finding workshop in Morpeth Town Hall on Monday, March 4.

It will allow 40 specially-invited individuals and organisations to contribute to the review by sharing their views. They will be asked what the key problems and main challenges are, and what changes they want to see considered.

A county council spokeswoman said: “The Morpeth Traffic Review Steering Group agreed with a key suggestion of Phil Jones to hold a workshop. For practical reasons the number of contributors to the workshop has to be limited.”

Mr Jones aims to complete his preliminary analysis, identify initial conclusions and report to the steering group meeting by March 25.

It is expected that his final report will be published later this year, allowing time to monitor and assess the impact of the opening of Morpeth’s new Morrisons superstore.