by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Security concerns are likely to result in a complete ban on all parking outside Dorchester’s Trinity Street Post Office.
It comes after complaints that vans serving the office being unable to get close access creating a security risk mainly because of Blue Badge holders parking there.
That risk is said to have substantially increased after the closure of banks elsewhere in the town centre.
Claims have been made about blue badge holders taking up all the spaces outside the Post Office for several hours at a time – just a few yards from two public car parks opposite and on-street parking also on the other side of the road.
Cllr Les Fry said he had been told by one disabled driver of stays of three or four hours – telling him they were doing so to avoid paying a fee in the car park on at the on-street meters.
“It can be a nightmare there for deliveries to and from the Post Office,” he told a town council meeting.
Town councillors backed the plea for the tougher enforcement measures which would mean blue badge holders not being able to park there at any time.
The measure, if accepted by Dorset Council, will have to be advertised making the proposal open to public comment.
An alternative solution, to create a loading bay outside the Post Office only for its use, has been rejected because of the proximity to the public car park opposite and the bus stops, which it was believed could lead to traffic congestion.
If approved the new restrictions will also apply to the area around the New Street turning into South Street which also has double yellow lines, which disabled users are also currently allowed to park on.
Said a report to town councillors, who unanimously backed the move at a planning and environment committee meeting: “I would recommend that the benefit to the Post Office would outweigh the inconvenience caused and also ensure that access to New Street was never an issue – especially for emergency services.”
