AMBITIOUS plans to ease congestion on Dorchester's traffic-choked streets are today revealed by highways chiefs.

Pedestrianisation of part of the high street and a series of one- way roads are being outlined as part of the proposals to take traffic out of the town centre and put it back on the Dorchester bypass.

Under the proposals, which will cost between £2 million and £5 million to implement, High West Street will be closed to all traffic except public transport from its junction at Top o' Town roundabout to Trinity Street, which will become a one way street with traffic turning right off the high street.

The high street will then be pedestrianised from Trinity Street to Acland Road - although access will be maintained for the prison and residents travelling west.

Other measures include making Great Western Road access only, introducing a gyratory system at Maumbury Rings and closing Albert Road to traffic at Top o'Town.

Acland Road and Williams Avenue will become the main north to south routes through the town.

Now members of the public are being invited to have their say on the proposals at a town centre exhibition planned for later this month.

Tim Westwood, transportation manager at Dorset County Council, said the proposals being considered were one of four put forward to 'key Dorchester stakeholders' including the town council, Dorchester Area Partnership, chamber of trade and civic society.

"The overall concept is to improve the environment of Dorchester for all - road users, pedestrians and cyclists.

"Vehicles will be actively discouraged from entering the Roman heart of the town unless they are accessing or using the town centre. But we need to find out if that's what people really want."

The two-day exhibition is due to take place on Cornhill on the weekend of September 18 and 19.