NETWORK Rail may have got their lines crossed over proposals to improve Dorchester’s South station.

Town councillors say the company appears to have misunderstood proposals the council has put forward to improve the station's Alfred Road entrance.

The ideas were suggested after it became apparent the rail company had no intention of replacing a fallen wall and clearing scrubland which has attracted litter.

A group of town councillors looked at the area and suggested schemes to improve its appearance, suggesting that some of the site be converted into paid-for parking slots, or simply replacing the fencing and the, applying a new surface and adding flower tubs.

The fallen wall, on the Alfred Road side, has been down for a number of years with a metal safety fence currently protecting the area.

The town council’s planning committee has made previous requests to have the wall replaced, and had written again with its suggestion for improvements, after a lack of action.

Councillors say the area gives a poor impression of the town to both visitors and residents arriving by rail.

Planning committee clerk Gina Wakely told councillors at a meeting that Network Rail had claimed any changes would not be viable, but she said that they appeared to have misunderstood what the council was asking for, referring to another area in their reply.

“We have now asked them for a site visit, but they’re reluctant,” she said.

Cllr Stella Jones said the council was simply asking for easy ways to improve the area: “We’re not asking them to spend more money, just to be more creative,” she said.

Said Cllr Molly Rennie : “We should stick to our guns, or the whole area will just end up full of rubbish.”

The council is to write again to Network Rail and ask for a site meeting.