THE MAYOR of Lyme Regis believes a one-way system and restricting lorries in the town centre could solve 'huge traffic problems'.

Cllr Owen Lovell said recent roadworks, which closed part of the town centre, were an eye-opener to how bad the traffic can be in the narrow Lyme Regis streets.

Speaking to the News, Cllr Lovell, said: "The problem is that Lyme Regis streets are not built for today's cars and lorries.

"I think the work in the town has opened one's eyes to the huge traffic problems.

"The only way that we can realistically address it is by putting restrictions on heavy vehicles in parts of the town and a one-way system in the Bridge Street, Church Street and Silver Street area.

"In simplistic terms, it would help alleviate some of the problems - but it is very unlikely anything major can change."

Cllr Lovell said that Lyme Regis Development Trust had previously attempted to restrict access to lorries and buses in the town centre, but he was wary of discouraging vehicles from visiting Lyme Regis altogether.

At last week's Lyme Regis Town Council planning and highways committee meeting, when discussing a pedestrian crossing for Broad Street, Cllr Lovell suggested a one-way system could offset any lost parking spaces as motorists would be able to park along one side of the town centre road.

Also speaking at the meeting, deputy mayor, Cllr Michaela Ellis said that parking and traffic enforcement in the town needed to be questioned, along with a 'complete traffic look'.

She said: "We've got to start getting everything enforced in this town because things aren't being enforced properly.

"We need a complete traffic look at this town."

Cllr Lovell believes Lyme Regis' low accident and collision rate means that the town often 'falls to the bottom of the pile' for road projects - competing with bigger towns for funding.

He said: "Our difficulty is we have 3,000 people when we are competing with Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester, Bridport and even Sherborne for where Dorset Highways will allocate their money.

"Bigger communities are obviously going to have more clout. I think our county councillors have always fought our corner and done well for us, but we do always fall to the bottom of the pile.

"The only way we can get the county council interested is to offer some of the money or to come up with some of the ideas. But they are very pressed for funding, and neither the county council or the town council is in any position to be throwing money away."

The town council has invited officers from Dorset County Council on a 'walk-around' the town to highlight traffic issues.