Councillors to act after complaints of dangerous parking on Dorchester's roads

At a meeting of the town council’s traffic panel, a recommendation to introduce time-limited parking on Queen’s Avenue was given the green light to be passed to Dorset County Council.

Several residents have written to the council expressing concern that the road has become a ‘car park’.

Speaking after the meeting Ieuen Adlam-Hill said: “The difficulty is access. There are cars parked on both sides of the road, so backing out of the drive can be awkward.”

He added: “I was delighted with the response of the council.

“They were very sympathetic to the problem.”

Restrictions on parking introduced in nearby roads have pushed more cars into Queen’s Avenue during work hours on weekdays, residents say.

In a letter to the panel, Joanna Bazalgette said: “On virtually every occasion I have left our driveway, my view of the road is completely blocked by the parked cars.

“On several occasions, having slowly pulled out, I have had to reverse back onto my drive as there are cars driving past that were entirely obscured. This is obviously extremely dangerous.”

Councillors unanimously agreed to recommend to the county council that parking restrictions of four hours be introduced in the avenue.

Coun David Barrett said the situation was ‘sorrowful’ for residents. He said: “I think Queen’s Avenue is in a conservation area of Dorchester , and a primary conservation street. That avenue should be a proud part of our town, not a car park.”

He told the panel he had carried out his own survey, and discovered 74 cars parked on the street.

Coun Trevor Jones said: “Clearly something needs to be done. Double yellow lines down one or both sides would inconvenience residents if they have visitors. The other option is limited parking and that’s the one I would favour.”

But he warned the changes, if given the go-ahead, would not be introduced quickly.

Emergency vehicles blocked

AMBULANCES would be unable to drive down Cromwell Road because of ‘illegal’ parking, it is claimed.

Residents told Dorchester Town Council ’s traffic panel that drivers are parking on corners, and double parking so that large vehicles struggle to get through.

Alan Brannen, who has recently moved to the area, said: “I have a transit van, and on the first day I arrived I was unable to get it through. I thought it was a one-off but it happens all the time. If an ambulance or fire engine needed to get through, they would be unable to.”

Coun Tim Harries said: “That parking is illegal. We will ask the county council to consider parking restrictions and also approach police to ask them to take a regular interest in the matter immediately.”