TWO narrow Shaftesbury roads, close to the town centre, could see parking banned – despite the objection of some residents.

Dorset Council is being asked to approve the traffic orders for Church Lane and Lyons Walk at a meeting next week (17th).

Member of the northern planning committee will be told that the parking ban is needed to prevent traffic problems, including access for emergency vehicles. Seven people have objected to the orders being made and six supported them.

Councillors on the planning committee are being recommended to support the traffic orders passing them to cabinet for final approval.

An officer report advises: “The proposals will improve the movement of all vehicles that use the road regularly and improve visibility for pedestrians and all vehicles. Larger vehicles such as emergency services will have better access if required.”

The orders would introduce double yellow lines along the entire length of Church Lane and Lyons Walk to prevent cars parking, excluding the existing disabled parking bay.

Officers say a secondary issue is that gas meter boxes belonging to some homes have been damaged by vehicles parking or manoeuvring .

Shaftesbury town council, the local councillor and the police support the traffic orders being made.

In a letter to the council one Lyons Walk resident said: “This narrow lane is not really designed to have cars driving or parked outside its houses. When cars are parked outside the houses, the small lane is impassable for any vehicle larger than a car and drivers of large cars must take extreme caution for fear of hitting the wall or another car. The narrowness of the street would certainly preclude any emergency service vehicles from reaching the front doors of the properties.

“Many cars park so closely to the houses, that they routinely block important emergency exits from the houses.”

Letter opposing the parking restrictions say any risk is low level and that, at most, only six cars can park there. One claims the nearest car park, at Trinity Church Yard, would cost almost £600 a year for a permit: “It seems a way of forcing people out of the town, creating a town only supportive of retired wealthy people,” said one objector, although council officers point out that cheaper parking is available at Angel Lane and Bell Street for £240 a year.