IT can be hugely frustrating to find yourself stuck at traffic lights when the roads are empty. This isn't supposed to happen in York – sensors should turn lights green when a car approaches, provided other roads are empty.

There has been plenty of debate on the letters pages of this newspaper by people convinced the lights simply aren't working properly, however.

Now it appears they may be right.

The city council has admitted that the sensors at 30 signals across the city are out of action. The induction loops buried under the road which are supposed to sense the approach of traffic aren't working because the road surface has deteriorated.

As a result, at off-peak times the traffic lights default to automatic timing, which means some motorists – especially those in side roads – can be left waiting for up to 30 seconds longer than they would otherwise.

This is not only frustrating – it can be dangerous, too. Fishergate councillor Andy D'Agorne, who first brought the problem to light, says he was told by a constituent that motorists trying to get through traffic lights on Fulford Road at the junction with Broadway were regularly jumping red lights in their frustration.

The council says it has £300,000 to repair the sensors at five sets of lights this financial year, and £200,000 for next year. But at this rate it could be years before all the sensors are repaired.

The council says repairing the road surfaces more quickly just to get all the sensors working isn't a priority compared to 'other areas' of transport spending.

Many may question the authority's priorities, however – especially after it decided to spend almost £500,000 introducing city-wide 20mph limits that very few people thought were necessary.