COUNCILLORS in Three Rivers are fighting to have their voices heard by the Highways Agency in a row over motorway traffic restrictions in Hunton Bridge.

A trial on the M25 junction 19 spur road began on February 26, where one lane was coned off in an attempt to reduce congestion on that section of the motorway.

The trial was due to end on April 6, but it is set to continue indefinitely while the agency evaluates data collected from CCTV cameras and make a final decision.

District and county councillors in Three Rivers have continued to express their concern that local roads are being swamped with traffic queuing for or avoiding the junction but have been refused a meeting with the Highways Agency.

Councillor Martin Trevett, chairman of the Three Rivers Highways Joint Member Panel, said: "The panel felt that although the work is helping flows on the motorway, the Highways Agency fail to take into account causing problems on local roads with tailbacks trying to get on the motorway.

"We wanted to meet the Highways Agency and chat to them before they made their final decision but they're not talking to elected members. We're elected by people to represent their views and the agency should talk to us."

Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst added: "If you restrict traffic getting on to the M25, of course there will be less traffic wishing to join it.

Some residents now prefer to drive along the Rickmansworth Road and through Croxley to get on the M25 at junctions 18 or 17 rather than face a queue at junction 19."

A representative of the Highways Agency, Martin Deller, said no decision about whether to make the restrictions permanent had been agreed.

Highways chiefs are already studying CCTV footage of the trial and Mr Deller said the flow of traffic had improved on the motorway. He added that 159,000 vehicle hours a year and £2million would be saved if the trial was made permanent.