After weeks of resurfacing works at car parks in West Bay, residents and business owners say they are shocked to see one new surface has 'melted.'

The Bridport Arms car park - one of three to be identified by West Dorset District Council as being in poor condition and in need of improvement - reopened last Friday after weeks of work to resurface it.

But the relief of business owners and residents - who had previously expressed concern over lack of parking provision while work was taking place and the impact it was having on trade - was shortlived, as part of the car park was fenced off again on Monday.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “The plastic surface has only been in use since Friday and a large part of it has lifted. A large vehicle must have turned on it and the plastic is not fixed down. They will have to take a section of it up and relay it. The ideal situation would have been to tarmac it, not what they’ve done."

West Bay resident Nicholas Gregory says the car park looks 'a right mess' and is concerned about traffic issues being prolonged while it is fixed.

"We've being doing without the car parks for a while now but it looks as though it might be held up even more now because of the problems they are having," he said. "We've had hot weather recently and the plastic underlay seems to be buckling. It's melted.

"Parking had been bad, particularly on Saturdays and Sundays. People park all up the verge and all along the bus route. Now it's going to go on while they fix this mess."

A spokesman for WDDC said: "Unexpectedly, an articulated lorry came in to the car park early hours of Monday. We think it was turning round and the surface wasn’t built for big tonne lorries manoeuvring. There are signs that clearly state the car park is for cars and motorbikes only. We are putting in a few bollards to ensure lorries aren’t able to use the car park, and the bollards were scheduled to be done this week anyway as there was a delay with the supply.

"This minor repair is being sorted today, most of the car park is still open. We are putting in a few bollards to ensure this doesn’t happen again. We are confident the car park will be open for Bank Holidays and half term. Only the overspill area of West Bay Road car park will be closed.

"It’s nothing to do with the standard of the work, we are very pleased with the results."