What is the Parish Council doing?

The Parish Council has no power to act directly on Highway matters. All that can be done is to exert pressure on those bodies which do have powers - in this case Highways England, Defra, Dorset Highways and West Dorset District Council Environmental Health Department.

Oliver Letwin is facilitating investigations into the feasibility of a Low Emission Zone covering Chideock, involving Highways England and Defra, Dorset Highways and West Dorset District Council Environmental Health Department.

The Parish Council is working with Highways England and Dorset RoadSafe (part of Dorset Police) for replacement of the current GATSO wet film speed cameras by Average Speed Cameras. In the mean time, the Parish Council is hoping that the burnt out camera opposite the Village Hall will be replaced with another GATSO unit, as a short term measure.

The Parish Council is also engaging with the DVSA (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency) to improve the checking of vehicles, especially HGVs, both east- and west-bound. The DVSA is moving away from static Roadside Enforcement Stations (such as Puddletown) to mobile, targeted testing.

Highways England has commissioned a Feasibility Study for improvements to the A35 in Chideock. The study will consider community severance and road safety issues relating to the operation of the A35 through the village.  This will form the basis for appropriate recommendations to be made in relation to improvements within the 30 mph speed limit area of the village in terms of vehicle speeds, pedestrian/cycle facilities (including crossings), junction improvements, and other measures such as signs/markings improvements. This study will also cover Morcombelake and Winterbourne Abbas.