Letwin seeks ban on village lorries

Mr Letwin, who has previously spoken out about inadequate marking on two of the county's main through-roads, has now made an appeal to Dorset County Council to keep lorries off the A356.

The road runs from Charminster to Crewkerne and Mr Letwin claims that people living along the route are suffering because of the traffic situation.

As chairman of the A356 Traffic Group, the shadow home secretary made a presentation to the county council outlining the situation.

Afterwards, he said: "The A356 carries heavy goods vehicles, often travelling at high speed, many of which could find other routes that do not go through villages. Our intention is to find appropriate means of diverting as many of these as possible - and also of making life pleasanter for those who have to tolerate the traffic that will still go through villages.

"The meeting was highly constructive. We now look forward to action from the Dorset and Somerset County Councils."

Mr Letwin's actions come just a few weeks after a shock survey slammed conditions on both the A356 and the A352 Dorchester to Cerne Abbas road.

Investigators from the Road Safety Markings Association said the roads were lacking warning signs alerting drivers to hazards on the road and fell far below the expected safety standards.

Mr Letwin said the survey revealed a "disturbing situation, which clearly needs to be investigated as a matter of urgency".

County council area highways manager Bob Blackstock said his team carried out regular checks of West Dorset roads and that proposals had already been put forward to upgrade the markings in several areas, which they hoped would soon secure funding.

Mr Letwin has previously made claims that rising traffic is turning the A35, West Dorset's main east-west artery, into a "glorified rat-run".

He chairs the A35 Communities Initiative Group, which campaigns for the views of local people to be taken on board by the Government.