FED-UP residents are urging council chiefs to speed up work to end Johnstone’s “traffic nightmare.”

There are complaints that efforts to ease congestion through the Johnstone Town Centre Strategy are not progressing quickly enough.

Community leaders say congestion is most serious on High Street (pictured above), as well as MacDowall Street, Collier Street and Church Street.

And, in a bid to beat the traffic misery, some desperate drivers are running red lights and jamming up junctions by ignoring road markings.

Concerns have also been raised over traffic lights at Collier Street which are said to be endangering the lives of elderly people and mums with prams.

A number of pedestrians say the traffic lights do not stay at red long enough for pedestrians to cross the road safely.

Ron Ewing, chairman of Johnstone Community Council (JCC), said his organisation has been raising concerns over the traffic problems for years.

He added: “We highlighted traffic flow issues to Renfrewshire Council in 2013 but they wouldn’t address the problem, so we came up with some ideas for improving the situation.

“After months of discussions with bus operators, traffic police and local businesses, a set of proposals was compiled on how the problems could be tackled.

“In October 2016, the council department heads decided that there was merit in the proposals and included the JCC’s suggestions in the council’s Town Centre Strategy.

“We have come up with a number of solutions but little progress has been made.

“Traffic congestion in Johnstone is only getting worse and Renfrewshire Council can’t ignore this any longer. Something needs to be done.”

At last week’s JCC meeting, PC Andy Taylor, who is based at Johnstone police station, confirmed officers have received numerous calls about the “erratic” traffic lights.

Allan Henderson, chair of the Johnstone Business Consortium, added: “There is an issue with cars parking on the High Street but most people don’t know there is a car park just off Church Street, so there really should be signs to highlight this.”

A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “The Johnstone Town Centre Strategy sets out the framework for the future growth of the town centre to ensure it is fit for purpose and can adapt to changing markets, needs and demands.

“Actions within the strategy have been developed in consultation with local residents, community groups, businesses and community planning partners and their continuing support is crucial for successful delivery.

“Actions have, and will be, taken forward in close partnership with these groups, along with all of those who have an interest in Johnstone.

“Transport and roads works planned to be carried out in 2017 were completed at the end of the financial year in March.

“Using funding allocated by Scottish Partnership for Transport (SPT), the build-outs at bus stops were removed on Johnstone High Street. This has improved traffic flow and eased congestion as the new road layout allows buses to service the stops without blocking the carriageway.

“The westbound bus stops at Houstoun Square and MacDowell Street have been re-positioned to further improve traffic management by addressing the issues of traffic previously backing onto the junction.

“The traffic signals at Collier Street have been examined and work will be carried out to ensure these are operating correctly as we recognise the safety of pedestrians and road users is paramount.”