TRAFFIC chaos in Lyme Regis over the bumper Bank Holiday weekend prompted fresh calls to tackle the 'gridlock and danger'.

Several major events, the warm weather, loss of parking, and scaffolding in a narrow street all contributed to the congestion.

Some visitors parked in residential areas, while others were forced to leave and spend the day elsewhere.

Coach parking and 275 spaces have been lost at Charmouth Road car park for the coastal protection works, use of Cobb Gate car park was restricted during the Fossil Festival, and an area of Monmouth Beach car park was used for support vehicles for the World Water Ski Championships.

Charmouth Road park and ride is not open until July.

Coun Anita Williams, chairman of the town council's planning and highways committee, said these events are important for the town's economy.

“However, the weight of traffic causes enormous difficulty in a town whose roads were simply not built for this weight and type of traffic,” she said.

Lyme Regis Police received several complaints about parking and said better traffic management was needed.

PCSO John Burton said: “Organisers of large scale events in the town must take responsibility for providing the necessary stewards to assist the public in finding suitable parking at events and provide appropriate signage and alternatives to bring visitors to their events, such as ensuring adequate park and ride buses are laid on at appropriate times.”

The Stamp family from Somerset said the traffic forced them to go to West Bay instead.

Natalie Stamp said: “There seemed to be cars everywhere, not knowing where to go. “One of the car parks said use the park and ride but didn't tell you were that was.” Some people attending the May Day Fete stayed longer than the one-hour limit in Anning Road.

PCSO Burton stressed that police are no longer responsible for parking matters, unless a vehicle is causing an obstruction, and responsibility lies with Dorset County Council.

Coun Williams said: “The effect is that our streets are blocked, pedestrians are put at risk and nobody takes any action.”

But police were able to take action when a driver punched and dented another car after missing out on a parking space at Monmouth Beach.

Police called in the county council's traffic warden on Friday morning - the fossil festival's primary schools day - to help keep traffic moving through Broad Street, where drivers were ignoring yellow lines.

“This caused several coaches delivering visitors to the festival to be blocked from leaving the bottom of Broad Street and consequently causing gridlock back through the traffic lights,” he said.

More problems were caused in Church Street by scaffolding, making it difficult for vehicles to pass each other in the narrow street.

Coun Williams said the town council is reviewing traffic and parking.

She said: “We will press DCC for a full traffic management survey and for implementation of solutions which, whilst they will not be popular for all, may help to avoid the gridlock and danger that blights our town.”

Coun Daryl Turner, the town's new county councillor, said: “I believe we are all aware of the growing concerns over traffic in Lyme but must also look on the positive side of a great weekend for the town as a whole.

“I'm sure the local authorities will be discussing this in the near future.”