Residents are hoping a parking nightmare in Weymouth can be sorted out with the introduction on a proposed new traffic scheme.

Dorset County Council is planning to upgrade the pedestrian crossing at the western end of Abbotsbury Road in Westham.

As part of this scheme, council chiefs are exploring ways to improve the parking situation in the small space outside the Londis store and post office next to the entrance of Old Parish Lane.

Here, pedestrians struggle to get past parked cars, and vehicles are said to have difficulty getting out of the space due to reduced visibility.

Improvements can’t come soon enough for resident Lyn Mumford who is concerned about cars blocking the way of pedestrians trying to access the shops.

She said: “I live on the same road as the post office, why should I have to cross the main road just to get there? There’s supposed to be a public walkway to the shop, but cars keep parking over it. Can we not walk safely without having to go around one of the parked cars or crossing the main road? The cars should park on Southview Road or one of the other roads.”

She added: “It’s also dangerous because cars shouldn’t be reversing out on to a busy main road.”

Dorset County Council is investigating.

A DCC spokesman said: “We are currently designing a maintenance upgrade of the pedestrian crossing. The ‘pelican’ style crossing will be replaced with the modern ‘puffin’ type. The crossing will have detectors to ensure that pedestrians of all abilities have enough time to cross and will also minimise delays for motorists.

“As part of the brief, we’ve been asked to review the parking on the south side, within the bell mouth of Old Parish Lane, from a safety point of view.

“The plans are currently at the draft stage and will be consulted on when completed.”

Westham councillor Cllr Ryan Hope has been campaigning to improve the situation.

He said: “We have been informed that the crossing will be upgraded as the current crossing has reached the end of its maintainable life. The new crossing has funds allocated in 2019/20 financial year, and it is hoped to deliver the scheme in the spring/summer 2019.”

“Listening to comments made by residents we are taking this opportunity and are currently working with highway engineers and the management of the Londis shop (which is fully behind the improvements) on the detailed design to also improve parking in a safer way.

“We have also requested yellow lines on the corner of Southview and Abbotsbury road due to complaints made about parking here.”