A SCHEME to ease congestion on the ring road at Horsforth has been scrapped after two days of chaos and massive tailbacks.

Motorists reported being stuck in stationary traffic for up to an hour, and many drivers had at least 45 minutes added onto their journey times after the introduction of the "disastrous" trial traffic management measures.

This week Leeds City Council apologised for the disruption. Now ward councillors and the area's MP Stuart Andrew are planning a meeting with the highways department to work out a collaborative approach towards a new plan.

Motorists ended up stuck in tailbacks when the Horsforth to Rodley Ring Road trial scheme began last week. The first phase reduced the two lanes towards Horsforth to one. But it was pulled after interventions by Horsforth councillors Dawn Collins, Jackie Shemilt and Jonathon Taylor along with councillors from Calverley and Farsley Andrew and Amanda Carter.

Cllr Taylor said drivers told him the changes had added a minimum of 45 minutes onto their journey time to work - with some people stuck in traffic for an hour.

He said: "Dawn, Jackie and I were able to feed back the immediate concerns of road users that this trial was not working and then apply the pressure needed for its withdrawal.

"The need for accessible information and better consultation and awareness before schemes was also raised and I am pleased that the Chief Highways Officer agreed with this approach for future projects. He also committed to a more collaborative approach to securing a long-term and lasting solution to alleviate the congestion and make this section of road safe for all users."

Councillor Collins described the results of the trial as "disastrous".

"I live close to where the new housing development is, just off the Ring Road," she said. "Even though I wasn’t getting home until after 6.30pm there still was a huge queue leading up to the Horsforth Roundabout from Rodley.

"I had several emails about the chaos that was being caused. Many people didn’t even know why the council were doing it.

"I understand my Calverley colleagues also witnessed the 'new' traffic queues forming all of the way through Calverley and up the hill towards Stanningley.

"Highways are right to want to do something here, but the plan must be consulted on. We will be working hard with officers and Stuart Andrew MP to secure a fully funded programme that will widen the road."

A Leeds City Council spokeswoman said: "We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to motorists due to the implementation of a trial traffic management scheme that was hoped would ease congestion at Horsforth Roundabout during peak periods.

"This was a genuine attempt to resolve an ongoing problem with an officer on-site to monitor the effectiveness of the trial. It unfortunately became clear that motorists did not use the lanes how we had anticipated and the initial changes were causing an unacceptable impact on Rodley roundabout.

"This was exacerbated by separate incidents that took place on Monday and Tuesday which led to additional problems on the Ring Road.

"While this trial proved that this particular scheme would not solve the ongoing problems in the area we do have a duty to look at all possible solutions and we will continue to work to find an acceptable way to ease congestion in this area."