HUNDREDS of placard-waving protesters packed the streets of Portishead to make a stand against the town's Cabstand traffic lights system. More than 1,000 residents, waving banners calling for the lights to be scrapped, marched from the Folk Hall to Waitro

HUNDREDS of placard-waving protesters packed the streets of Portishead to make a stand against the town's Cabstand traffic lights system.More than 1,000 residents, waving banners calling for the lights to be scrapped, marched from the Folk Hall to Waitrose on Saturday.Residents also took to the streets to protest against the timing of a meeting of North Somerset's strategic planning and economic development policy and scrutiny panel this Friday.The panel is due to look again at the decision to install the Cabstand road system and, if necessary, make recommendations to North Somerset Council executive. The meeting is being held at 3pm, and despite calls by councillors and members of the public to move it to the evening so residents can attend, chairman Elfan Ap Rees refused to do so.The march was organised by Portishead town councillor Dave Pasley, who has been fighting for changes to the lights on behalf of local residents.He also pressed North Somerset to change the timing of the scrutiny panel meeting so local people could attend.Cllr Pasley said: "North Somerset Council should admit it has made a mistake with these lights."The designers of this scheme should be made to put it right and pay for it."The Cabstand traffic layout is flawed."The traffic, using the side roads to avoid the queues, is creating potential death traps and more danger for pedestrians, including children."It is only a matter of time before our worse nightmare becomes a reality."We have sent a clear message today that this will no longer be tolerated."Cllr Pasley urged residents to write to the chairman of the scrutiny panel, Elfan Ap Rees, voicing their concern about the Cabstand road layout. Portishead resident David Jolley, who collected a 5,000-signature petition calling for the Cabstand lights to be scrapped, told the crowd: "Clearly we are still unhappy."The council is taking the view that if we wait long enough, then we will get used to it."It would not cost £800,000 to put the lights right.