EXTRA parking restrictions could soon be in place at Dorchester’s Lubbecke Way.

Residents have suffered problems, including cars being hit, since the route was designated as the main way in and out of the town’s household recycling centre at Loud’s Mill at the end of St George’s Road.

Much of the problem has been caused by cars being parked in Lubbecke Way throughout the day by town centre workers.

Ward councillor Cllr Stella Jones say that the vehicles have restricted the width of the road, and because some people have tried to use Longbridge Way as a short-cut, there have been accidents – including some residents’ cars being hit several times.

She has been calling for additional parking restrictions since the start of summer – something which now looks more likely by the County Council using an experimental traffic order.

Town councillors were told on Tuesday evening that there had been no statutory objections to the proposed order – which meant it would now go ahead.

County and town councillor Andy Canning told the meeting: “This will now move forward as fast as Dorset County Council can do these things.”

Cllr Jones has also asked for better signs to direct traffic to the household recycling centre and for repairs to be made to the road surface in Lubbecke Way which she describes as “dreadful”.

Mrs Jones said that businesses in the area have already been written to asking them to use the designated route.

The experimental traffic order will introduce parking restrictions close to the junction with King’s Road and also outside the ambulance station. The county say the effects of this, temporary, order will be monitored for several months before deciding whether to make it permanent. The process will involve a consultation with residents.

Town councillors have called, over a period of years, for the county council to find a better site for the recycling centre which is only accessible by a narrow road and frequently has to be closed completely while skips are emptied.