DISABLED drivers want the brake put on plans to pedestrianise the full length of Dorchester's South Street.

They claim they cannot manage without the disabled parking places in lower South Street that would go if traffic was banned.

And they will not be signing the petition being promoted by Alistair Chisholm, president of Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, that calls for pedestrianisation of the whole street.

Currently, lower South Street is open to traffic coming from Trinity Street and down New Street in a one-way system.

Mr Chisholm has spearheaded a chamber call to keep traffic out to make shopping safer and easier for pedestrians as part of a long-term traffic plan for the town.

But disabled people fear they will no longer be able to get to shops in lower South Street if they are moved to alternative disabled parking places.

Mayor of Dorchester David Barrett is calling for a public meeting so that disabled people can make their views known. He has written to the chief executive of Dorset County Council asking for a meeting soon.

He said: "A considerable number of disabled and partially-sighted people have contacted me about this. They want to express their views.

"They are worried that they won't be able to park close to the shops in lower South Street as at present and won't be able to get to the butcher and chemist and other shops like Goulds.

"There are always cars with disabled stickers parked along there. People say they need to park there because it's about the only level street that they can manage.

"So much of Dorchester is on a slope and that's no good for those disabled people that don't use motorised buggies.

"I know one elderly man who pushes his wife in a wheelchair and he can't do that up a slope."

He said people from outside Dorchester who come into town to shop were also concerned.

Dorchester town councillor Len Heath said: "There is quite a bit of conflict about this. I know the chamber is keen to pedestrianise that area but disabled people want to keep it as it is.

"They don't mind about closure for the occasional event as we've had this summer on Saturdays but they are worried about how they will do their shopping on weekdays.

"I know Alistair and the chamber have the best intentions but I'm concerned about how disabled people will manage if they can't park in South Street."

He said he became aware of how much of Dorchester was on a slope when his wife Valerie hurt her back and found walking difficult for a while.

Coun Heath said: "She could walk down New Street but couldn't walk back up to Trinity Street where I'd parked the car."

He added: "I don't like petitions because they only give one side. It's clear to me that disabled people want to keep their parking in South Street."