LAST-MINUTE "safety" changes to Wolvercote and Cutteslowe Roundabouts have been welcomed as long as the traffic improves in the long run.

Residents had their say on improvements to the works at a drop-in event yesterday after council officers looked again at the scheme during its final stages.

The changes - not expected to add to the cost or set back the project - will see a traffic light controlled lane added for cars turning left towards Headington and the number of lanes on approach to the roundabout reduced from four to three on the Cutteslowe Roundabout.

Five Mile Drive resident Robin Sloan said: "I can see the value of a left turning lane and I don't think four or three lanes will make any difference and it is supposed to make it safer.

"But the recent overnight work needs to be made clearer - an ambulance with its blue lights on the other day didn't know the roundabout was closed and the delay could have cost a life."

The council's project sponsor Isaac Webb said reviewing schemes in the latter stages was "not uncommon" and that the changes would make it safer at no extra cost and that it would still be completed in mid-October.

Retired publisher William Snyder, who also lives in Five Mile Drive, said: "I'm retired so I'm not stuck in it every morning but it must be very frustrating.

"It is concerning that if I or my wife got sick and needed the hospital at peak times - we may not get there.

The 78-year-old added: "I don't mind the timescale if it improves things - the council keep telling us it will but we will have to see if it stops traffic from coming down our road."

Motorists were left further frustrated on Tuesday night when heavy traffic remained at a standstill for more than two hours due to night-time road closures.

Waterways resident David Rose, 57, said it took him two hours to get home from the Peartree Roundabout on Tuesday.

Mr Rose, who was coming back from the Lake District with his wife and two children, said: "It's completely chaotic.

"A whole year and Oxford can't even get its act together and do two roundabouts.

"It’s gobsmacking - it’s caused such disruption. While we were waiting three ambulances came off the A34 and got stuck in the traffic."