A CAMPAIGNER has criticised “shoddy” road blocks put in place to ease traffic during long-running roadworks, after someone was filmed removing them and driving through.

Yo Takatsuki and his neighbours in Windsor and Belgrave Road, Wanstead were outraged when National Grid failed to implement any remedial measures to ease traffic before work to replace 100-year-old pipes under Blake Hall Road began on June 20.

After the first phase of gas replacement works caused traffic chaos and left residents in surrounding roads feeling “trapped” in their homes between July and October last year, Mr Takatsuki was shocked at the lack of pre-emptive steps taken.

But after several complaints and a report in the Guardian, National Grid blocked Belgrave Road to through traffic to stop it becoming a “rat run” for speeding motorists trying to avoid jams.

On the day after work began (Tuesday, June 21) however, Mr Takatsuki and his pregnant wife Katy were shocked to see a driver get out of his car, remove the road block and drive straight through.

The 37-year-old said: “I was on my way home just after 6pm when I saw this guy completely ignoring the road blocks at the junction with Blake Hall Road.

“He moved the bollards, flagrantly ignoring warnings from bystanders and drove through.”

Mr Takatsuki, of Windsor Road, filmed the incident on his phone and has reported it to National Grid and the police.

He said: “I am pleased they decided to listen to our feedback and put the needed measures in place, but this shows the road blocks are not up to scratch.

“People are clearly just ignoring it, which makes a mockery of the steps put in place to try to ease the problem.

“It’s just not good enough.”

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “Removing street furniture not put in place by police is not a criminal offence.

“The responsibility for this lies with the people who implemented the road blocks in the first place.”

After work started last week, residents have reported queues of over a mile-long and gridlocks for up to six hours a day.

Mr Takatsuki added: “As expected, it’s complete chaos, with rush hour queues going as far back as Wanstead Station, the Green Man Roundabout and Bushwood.

“Even at 11am when you would think it would have died down, it’s still gridlocked.

“This is going to a lot of people in a huge way for 20 weeks. They can’t just do things half-heartedly – they need to put more thought into it, otherwise our lives will be made that much more difficult.”

National Grid has been contacted for comment.