It's now Tuesday and the traffic lights still aren't working at what is universally acknowledged as a busy junction. Why haven't Devon County Council arranged for temporary signals is this hotspot of chronic traffic congestion?

The Express & Echo has an article on the problem.

Children's lives 'at risk' after traffic lights go out

LIVES were put at risk because faulty traffic lights at a busy Exeter junction were not repaired immediately, a resident has claimed.

There was rush-hour chaos at the junction of Buddle Lane and Cowick Street yesterday, where all four sets of lights had gone out.

Pensioner Terrence Bulley said the problem happened on Friday, and should have been fixed on the same day.

Cowick Street is one of the main routes in and out of Exeter and gets congested at busy times – even when the lights are fully functional.

But Mr Bulley has said that for the last three days the lights were left off, and motorists have been left to work out who has right of way.

The 70-year-old resident of New Hayes, near Clyst St Mary, regularly drives to St Thomas to look after his grandchildren.

He said he feared for the safety of pupils who were making their way to school.

"When there is a fault on a junction as vital as that it is crucial it gets fixed immediately," he said.

"The authorities clearly knew about it because there were signs around the lights indicating that they were down, but there were no temporary lights in their place.

"My greatest concern was for the children on their way to the school, they were dicing with death because there was no way of telling which car was going to move."

The fault was one of a number in and around Exeter causing problems for motorists.

At Pinhoe, gas works on the B3181 are continuing with three-way temporary lights at the junction with Station Road and Church Hill.

Traders have complained the works, which are being carried out by Wales and West utilities, are affecting their business.

Also affecting the B3181 are works to improve the highway and drainage in Cullompton.

Contractors for Devon County Council started work in Fore Street on February 21 and are not expected to be complete until Friday, June 24 – two weeks later than scheduled.

County council contractors were repairing the lights at the Buddle Lane/Cowick Street junction yesterday. No one from the council was available for comment.