RESIDENTS want action to stop motorists using their village as a rat run. Around 50 people packed Holt Parish Hall to air concerns to police and highways chiefs.

Locals said there had been a dramatic increase in traffic, in particular HGVs, using the village as a short cut from Verwood to Wimborne and many drivers ignored the 30mph speed limit.

Parish council chairman Cllr Norman Willis said: "We have high council taxes and people living here are saying they get nothing for their money."

Cllr Willis said motorists used Holt as a short cut to avoid Canford Bottom roundabout, which was regularly congested.

"I suppose the answer would be to sort out the problems at the round-about but I can't see that happening," he added.

Residents suggested more signs approaching the 30mph zone to encourage drivers to slow earlier, or a chicane or speed humps. However, fears were expressed that these would require additional signs and create vibration and noise.

Police Inspector Peter Holland suggested residents could form a community speed watch group and he offered to carry out speed gun checks.

Highways manager at Dorset County Council Richard Bastow said surveys would be carried out in response to the villagers' concerns.

First published: May 19