TOWN councillors in Dorchester have vowed to continue their fight to pedestrianise sections of the town centre.

They called on West Dorset District Council to listen to public opinion over the future of High East and West streets.

Coun Stella Jones mounted a passionate plea for the district to drop their favoured option for the roads - the creation of a one-way system - at a meeting of Dorchester Town Council's traffic panel last night.

She criticised West Dorset for going back on its earlier call for pedestrianisation following opposition from parish councils.

She said: "The town council supports pedestrianisation, as does the chamber of trade and civic society.

"A total of 67 per cent of people responding to the public consultation favoured it, many from village postcodes.

"But because two parishes - Piddle Valley and Bradford Peverell - said they were not happy about it, the district now favours a one-way system.

"The whole point of the Dorchester Traffic Plan is to reduce the amount of through traffic, improve the environment, enhance the town and increase pedestrianisation.

"People directly affected by this want pedestrianisation, it's as simple as that."

Coun Jones linked the scheme to plans to pedestrianise South Street 25 years ago, which she said was met with fierce opposition at the time.

"It was a real fight getting that because people were saying it wouldn't work," she said.

"But it has proved to be one of the best things to happen to Dorchester."

Members of the town council's traffic panel called on members at today's West Dorset executive meeting to reconsider their position. Mayor Tim Harries said implementing pedestrianisation in High East and West streets would 'save the fabric of the town'.

West Dorset director of planning and environment David Evans said much more work was to be carried out before a final decision on how Dorchester's roads will change is made later this year. He told councillors: "We need to find common ground on the best way forward.

"Ideally we need the three councils to fall into alignment so we can put the best possible case forward to get grants and funding.

Town clerk Dennis Holmes said: "In any future consultations I hope Dorchester Town Council is consulted over developments at Crossways and Charlton Down.

"After all, residents of those developments come into Dorchester and clog up our roads."

Coun Trevor Jones vowed to pressure today's meeting of West Dorset's executive to reconsider the district's viewpoint.

He warned: "All this could be academic unless the district and county councils can find funding."

Coun Alan Beard, a supporter of a one-way scheme, said villagers' views should be taken into account. "If Dorchester wants to function as the county town it cannot afford a parochial attitude," he said.

Coun David Barratt questioned the town's Chamber of Trade support for the pedestrianisation plan, claiming the organisation 'didn't fully understand' the proposal.

Under the proposed one-way street scheme the Top o'Town roundabout would all but disappear with traffic taken west to east down High West and East streets. The scheme also includes wider pavements, parking for disabled drivers and more pedestrianisation in South Street and Albert Road.

But campaigners - including civic societies and town crier Alistair Chisholm - want the streets to be pedestrianised, creating a focal point for the town.