Council chiefs are looking at ways to cut the risk to pedestrians by slowing traffic at a tight chicane in Marshwood.

The move follows safety concerns expressed by residents in the village.

The road has no footpath and narrows at a key bend leaving little space for traffic to safely pass one another.

Among those currently using the road are children heading to and from school, who at present have to use the roadside verge or cross the road and head through the adjacent field.

A spokesperson for Dorset County Council said: “Our road safety team have assessed this route. We are currently waiting for their report to find out what they recommend for this road. It will then be a case of bidding for funding to carry out any works that are needed.”

Ali Edwards, Marshwood parish councillor, said: “I went to Dorset County Council and they sent a team down to assess the road.

“Ideally we would have a footpath throughout the entire village but that would be too expensive.”

“The idea is there will be nothing over-engineered, there would be a slowing of the traffic at the natural pinch point, so there are no plans for a footpath.”

David Hitchcock, chairman of the Marshwood Community Land Trust, said that one solution could be found in creating a priority traffic system, effectively creating a small strip of single lane road at the natural pinch point.

Mr Hitchcock said that a new affordable housing development in the village, soon to be named Bramblehay, sits on the opposite side of the road to other residential areas and is unaffected by the issue.

He added: “The development is above the chicane so children heading to school would just walk up the grass verge,” he said.

Meanwhile an existing arrangement by the county council to fund the cost of taxis to transport some students from the village to the nearby school will continue.

However, not all of householders in the village are included in the scheme, with some falling just outside of the allotted catchment area.

The county council spokesperson said: “We will continue current transport arrangements until a decision has been made. Those not included in the zone can appeal, which is decided on a case-by-case basis.”