RESIDENTS turned out in force to speak out against a proposed traffic scheme for Dorchester.

The Corn Exchange was full to capacity at a meeting organised by local people concerned about Dorset County Council’s proposed Dorchester Transport and Environment Plan (DTEP).

The event was organised by a group of residents, mainly from the Great Western Road area, concerned about the impact the scheme would have on traffic flows in their roads.

It was a chance for people from all parts of the town to have their say and air their concerns on how the proposals, which Dorset County Council is currently consulting on, will affect them.

Martin Graham, who lives in Cornwall Road, said when he opened the meeting: “This is a meeting arranged by a large number of concerned residents in Dorchester, so it’s nobody’s meeting except yours.”

Simon Dinnage, who chaired the meeting, said that concerns raised on the night would be compiled and submitted to councillors to let them know what Dorchester residents think about the scheme.

Proposals included in the scheme include making High West Street and part of High East Street one-way and changing the direction of flow on some roads in a bid to improve air quality in the town centre.

Speaking of his own concerns, Mr Dinnage said: “The plan does not achieve the objectives set out in the plan.

“It doesn’t reduce traffic through the town, it just redistributes it.

“It doesn’t reduce pollution, in fact it increases it by increasing journey times through Dorch-ester.”

Mr Dinnage also said that the plans could risk creating a dividing line between the existing town centre in High Street and the Brewery Square development.

He went on to raise concerns about the ‘due process’ the council had exercised, something reflected by town, district and county councillor Andy Canning.

Coun Canning said: “All of us have been shocked and horrified about how poorly they have publicised this.”

Other concerns raised from the floor included the impact on junctions in the town, moving the pollution to areas where children are walking to school and increased traffic and pollution in the area of the Borough Gardens.

Town crier and district councillor Alistair Chisholm said a previous plan put forward in 2003, which had now been shelved in favour of the current proposals, was much more ‘agreeable’.

Great Western Road resident Rick Birley said: “One thing it seems to me is that this whole scheme lacks vision.

“We should be looking at the whole town, every aspect and people’s needs and how they are met.”