MOTORISTS have accused shipyard bosses of "sneaking through" plans to replace a busy roundabout with traffic lights without adequately consulting the public.

The Evening Mail revealed last week how BAE Systems was set to replace the roundabout at the end of Jubilee Bridge, Walney, with three-way traffic lights. 

The new lights form part of a traffic management plan requirement imposed after BAE was granted planning permission for its £300m site redevelopment, meaning the company must only seek the approval of officers at Cumbria County Council for the road changes. The shipyard also plans to remove the exit leading to Burnaby Street and the exit from the Devonshire Dock Hall onto North Road.

Alan Williamson, who lives on Walney, said: "They haven't gone out of their way to make anyone aware of these plans, this is the first a lot of people have heard about it. Surely BAE should have put more effort into consulting with the public on something this significant. 

"It will have a big impact on the lives of people living on Walney and Barrow Island and it just looks like it's been sneaked through."

Work to replace the roundabout with traffic lights is set to begin at the end of this year and could take up to six months, according to sources. Some motorists are furious, and many have given their reaction on the Evening Mail's Facebook page. 

Bill McEwan, a councillor on Barrow Borough Council and chairman of the county council's local highways committee, said BAE "must do something" to address public concerns. 

He said: "BAE should have done more to share with people their plans, particularly those who live on Barrow Island and Walney. 

"My feelings go to the people who have concerns and I will be doing everything I can to resolve this problem and help them to seek more consultation. BAE has got to do something now that people have expressed concerns."

A spokesman for BAE said the company would share the details of the traffic management plan with the public "in due course". 

The spokesman said: "We have involved the public at regular stages throughout the ongoing redevelopment of our site and have hosted a number of public consultations, together with separate briefings for residents of Barrow Island. The last of these was held on Tuesday evening. 

"The redevelopment programme is integral to our future and that of the town. We recognise some aspects of the work may cause a level of disruption, but we’d like to reassure residents we’ll work hard to mitigate these as much as possible. 

"The road improvement designs were finalised on May 13 and we fully intend to share the details of these with members of the public in due course, as we have done with other projects."