Councillors have urged residents’ to drum up more support in order to address parking issues in a Dorchester neighbourhood.

Residents from around the Cromwell Road area are the latest community in the county town to put their concerns over safety and congestion in their road before Dorchester Town Council’s planning and environment committee.

Problems stemmed from workers and train passengers not wanting to pay for parking and leaving their vehicles in residential areas around Alfred Road, Cromwell Road, Monmouth Road and Manor Park during the day.

As well as considering comments from residents who were unable to park near their homes, councillors were also told the emergency services and the Dorset Waste Partnership had difficulty concerning access the area.

Committee members echoed the concerns raised by residents and the response services, but said in order for them to put a recommendation forward to Dorset County Council for parking restrictions, residents would have to drum up more support.

Residents told councillors that the situation had improved slightly due to a temporary one-way system put in place near Monmouth Road while engineering works have been carried out.

One resident who attended the meeting said: “The situation was getting progressively worse before engineering work started.

“The parking situation is becoming very difficult around Monmouth Road and Cromwell Road. Residents are not able to park their own cars.

“Some people can leave their vehicles there for weeks at a time and those with small children and shopping to do means this has become quite a big deal for people.”

She asked councillors for advice on how to go about getting residents’ parking or parking restrictions in the area.

Councillor Robin Potter said: “I have every sympathy but residents need to find out the level of support.

“We need to know if people will support it before we act.

“There is concern over the waste lorry getting through and access for ambulances.”

He noted that parking restrictions may ‘move the problem along to Rossi Road and Cambridge Road’.

Dorchester town mayor Peter Mann, pictured left, said: “It is one of the most difficult roads in the town. I do think there is a public safety issue.”

Vice chairman Richard Biggs said: “There needs to be a good level of support for us to put a recommendation forward for a residents’ parking scheme.”

Cllr Fiona Kent-Ledger said: “You need to be sure that everyone wants it.

“You need to come back to us with lots of signatures and then we can write to the emergency services and Dorset Waste Partnership for their support and go forward with a recommendation.”