Residents in roads leading to Dorchester's household recycling centre are calling for a 20mph limit to improve safety.

A petition will be presented at Monday evening's (Dec 3) town planning committee.

It comes after complaints last week that despite the county council promising traffic calming measures earlier in the year, nothing has happened.

The county council have told the town council that the delay was caused by staff sickness and that the experimental road orders, said to be the quickest way of making the changes, are now a priority for it.

Residents in Lubbecke Way and St George's Road as well as the new Long Bridge Way, say they have constantly suffered from speeding lorries and other vehicles since the route to the household cycling centre at Louds Mill was changed in the summer. Traffic is still using Eddison Avenue, Acreman Way and St George's Road because a sign telling them of the new route has been placed at the end, not the beginning, of the former route. Residents from all of the roads are asking to be included in a new 20mph zone.

Problems in the area are made worse by town centre workers using the roads to park all day for free, reducing the road to a single lane in places.

It has long been argued that the tip, which is only accessible via narrow residential roads, is not only in the wrong place but is inadequate for the modern population of Dorchester. The county council has been criticised by town councillors again this year for failing to find an alternative site similar to those in Bridport or Weymouth.

The only site which has been identified is on the proposed Dorchester North development which has yet to be agreed and even if it is, could be up to ten years away. A site was suggested two years ago at the Duchy's Poundbury estate but was rejected after residents objected.

Town councillors are expected to back the petition from residents at Monday's meeting – but will have to pass the request to the county council as it has responsibility for highways.

In addition to a 20mph zone the residents petition calls for speed reducing humps down Lubbecke Way.

Work to be undertake in the area, under the experimental traffic order, will include parking restrictions close to the Lubbecke Way junction with King's Road and also outside the ambulance station. The county say the effects of the temporary order will be monitored for several months before deciding whether to make it permanent. The process will involve a further consultation with residents at the end of the period.