A MEETING to discuss Dorchester's long-awaited pedestrianisation plan was postponed after only two councillors turned up.

The Dorchester Heritage Committee was due to meet last night to air views on the recently unveiled traffic plan for the county town.

The committee contains six councillors, three each from West Dorset District Council and Dorchester Town Council, along with representatives from a host of town-based heritage and historical groups.

But committee chairman Andy Canning was forced to postpone the meeting after only he and town council colleague Kate Hebditch turned up.

After delaying the start of the meeting by 10 minutes, Coun Canning was forced to take the decision because at least three councillors were needed to proceed.

Other councillors on the committee are Mary Penfold, David Barratt, Fiona Kent-Ledger and Roland Tarr.

Coun Canning told the meeting Coun Barratt was currently away on holiday, while he understood Coun Tarr was due back yesterday.

Coun Canning said: "This is a very unusual thing to happen."

Also in attendance was Tim Loasby of Dorchester's Blue Badge Tourist Guides and Derek Beauchamp of Dorchester Civic Society.

Sally-Lloyd Jacob, Linda Quinton and Jo Witherden, officers at West Dorset District Council, and Dorchester Town Council deputy town clerk Steve Newman were also at the town council-based meeting.

Members were set to debate plans to pedestrianise part of High West Street and create a series of one-way roads in the town. The scheme is part of a long-awaited plan designed to ease traffic in the centre of Dorchester and is expected to cost between £2m and £5m to implement.

Last night's meeting was the first public council meeting to discuss the issue since the plans were announced earlier this month.

Also on the agenda was a plan to install more signs and notices to boost the popularity of four town trails.

The meeting, which has been rescheduled for September 27, was set to approve making a grant of £7,500 towards the £22,500 project.

There were fears for the future of the heritage committee earlier this year when Dorset County Council withdrew its funding from the committee.

But members vowed to carry on despite the blow and the committee is now funded solely by West Dorset District Council and Dorchester Town Council.