THE HEAD of Bridport's tourism board has called on the town council to work towards solving parking problems after labelling the issues a 'crisis'.

Scott Condliffe, chairman of the Bridport and District Tourism Association has asked the council to work towards a 'longer-term solution' to stop making things 'unnecessarily difficult' for local businesses.

He said: "I sincerely believe that we are now at a crisis point with parking.

"Parking has been talked about for as long as I can remember, but I do think we have become more popular over the last few years as an area."

Mr Condliffe believes parking problems are driving people away from firms in the Bridport area.

"It is a crisis because it is affecting customer satisfaction," he said. "People are driving around in circles trying to park. It is a crisis in terms of lost opportunities for the town's businesses, West Bay businesses in particular.

"It is difficult to make money nowadays and things like customers leaving because they cannot park their cars is making things unnecessarily difficult.

"I would like the town council to recognise this as a crisis and start working towards some longer term solutions to this problem."

Bridport Town Council said it would be looking at parking issues as part of a wider town centre review.

Town surveyor Daryl Chambers said the council would also be looking at parking for events at Asker Meadows.

"We have an area behind Oh Crumbs cafe that the town council is now looking at bringing into use as a proper parking area," he said.

"We are constantly reviewing the situation. We will also be looking at people parking for events at Asker Meadows and walking into town over the new bridge."

"We are planning a town centre review," added Mr Chambers.

"The town centre review will be the most far-ranging thing I think this town council has ever taken on."

President of Bridport Business Chamber, Richard Smith, asked if the town council would be able to 'take back control' of any car parks run by West Dorset District Council as Lyme Regis Town Council have done at Monmouth Beach.

Mr Condliffe acknowledged that parking demand changes throughout the year but called for a solution before next year's busy summer season.

"The demand for parking goes up and down at various times of the year," he said.

"Having temporary parking that is available when it is needed could be a potential solution.

"My concern is that before we know it, it is going to be May next year and we are going to have a big problem."