ANGRY residents are protesting over moves to block off a route through their village.

Three hundred villagers and business people have signed a petition against bollards which will shut off Putton Lane, Chickerell.

The bollards are one of the measures being brought in by Dorset County Council to funnel traffic on to the new £2.5 million Chickerell Link Road.

But protesters say motorists will be forced to drive much further to reach areas near the bollards including village butcher Robinson & Godsall in Green Lane where there are fears that the traffic restriction will hit trade and hamper deliveries.

Garry Andrews, who owns the butchery business, said he was worried at what the future might hold for the village and for his company.

He added: "I think the bollards are a very bad idea for the village and they are also a bad idea for us.

"We feel it will hit our trade and make delivering our orders for the village much harder for us."

Jerry Place, who owns Charlestown Post Office, said: "These bollards could destroy this butchery business which I think is an excellent village facility.

"It will also affect our trade because people from that part of the village won't be able to use Putton Lane to get to us."

Another villager added: "We are also worried at what the bollards will mean for access by emergency vehicles."

Matthew Piles, Chickerell Link Road county council project manager, said he understood people's concerns.

He added: "Unfortunately we are not able to change this aspect of the project because it is one of the measures to funnel traffic on to the new road and away from Putton Lane which is not suitable for the amount of traffic which is currently using it.

"Only drivers are affected and cyclists and pedestrians will be able to use the road as before.

"It is just unfortunate that something was not said earlier at a stage when the county council could have reacted."

Bad weather has forced the opening of the new road to be put back until January 16 so traffic lights can be properly tested without doing so during peak Christmas traffic.