LONG-awaited speed humps are set to be installed in a busy East Dorset road in a bid to deter motorists from using it as a rat run.

County highways chiefs are proposing to erect 23 humps along a mile-and-a-quarter stretch of Golf Links Road in Ferndown where there have been seven injury road accidents in the last three years.

The traffic calming scheme, which will cost around £50,000, has been welcomed by people living nearby who say the route is being used as a short cut.

One resident said: "We are very happy about it as the situation has just been getting worse. We are getting more and more commercial vehicles down here and a lot of hedges and walls have been damaged.

"We do not want to deter the traffic - we just want motorists to keep to the speed limit."

A total of 3,000 cars a day use the route, which contains sharp bends followed by long straight sections.

Two years ago, county councillors threw out controversial plans to temporarily close the road following a storm of protest.

Since then, residents have met with highways engineers and council chiefs in an effort to come up with a solution.

Section manager for Dorset County Council Tony Mackle said: "We have distributed 360 letters to people living along the road and we have consulted with the emergency services.

"If there are objections, the matter will go before the roads and rights of way committee in July and they will need to take a balanced view."

Town councillors are due to discuss the proposals when they meet on June 6.

Plans showing the proposals are currently on show at Ferndown Town Council offices and East Dorset District Council offices at Furzehill.

Comments need to go to Dorset County Council by June 10.

First published: May 25