RIGHT turns out of a Dorchester road – and left turns into it – look set to be banned as a transport scheme takes another step forward.

A report to Dorset County Council’s cabinet recommends the bans for drivers coming out of Prince of Wales Road onto South Walks Road under the Dorchester Transport and Environment Plan (DTEP).

The plans have already been discussed by the regulatory committee, which recommended that cabinet approves the move when it meets on Wednesday.

The report to cabinet states that the changes are ‘necessary’ as a pedestrian crossing on South Walks Road will be relocated.

DTEP was first proposed in 2013 and originally included proposals to make part of High East Street and High West Street one-way.

But it was vastly scaled back in 2015 to focus on maintenance and junction improvements, following consultation with residents and businesses.

This included: “The replacement and improvement of the existing pedestrian crossing signal equipment around South Gate Junction, linking of the individual crossings to reduce traffic delays. It also included relocating the pedestrian crossing on South Walks Road to provide a more direct link between Brewery Square and South Street.”

The report states that one person objected to the plans for the Prince of Wales Road junction, while county councillors for Dorchester, Cllr Trevor Jones and Cllr Richard Biggs supported them, as did West Dorset District Council, Dorchester Town Council and Dorset Police.

Cllr Andy Canning, county councillor for Linden Lea and chairman of the DTEP project working group, also threw his support behind the proposals, which he said would improve accessibility around the junction, and between Brewery Square and the town.

The report to cabinet adds: “Officers confirmed that the proposed measures were necessary in order to realise the scheme’s objective of improving access for pedestrians, cyclists, the elderly and disabled. The scheme would achieve this by providing controlled pedestrian crossing facilities for improved access and consequently the recommendation was that the cabinet be asked to approve implementation of the order.”

Cabinet will meet to discuss the report at County Hall in Dorchester on Wednesday.