A speed survey is to be organised for Peverell Avenue East, in Poundbury, to see if the road might qualify for a 20mph zone.

Dorset Council said that without further investigation it was unable to make a decision on the road, which passes The Great Field recreational ground and Damers First School, heading to the central Queen Mother Square in the Duchy's urban extension of Dorchester.

Now Dorchester Town Council has agreed to pay for a speed survey, using strips fixed to the road, attached to a measuring device, at a cost of more than £300.

Cllr Richard Biggs, who sits on both councils, said that as much as he was loathed to see the town council pay for Dorset Council highway work, without funding the survey, the information would not be collected to make the case to lower the speed limit.

In a recent letter to the Dorset Echo, writer R. Bonner pointed out the disparity when it comes to the treatment of 'old' and 'new' Poundbury;

"How ironic that old Poundbury and Poundbury Road residents have for over 40 years, and all well within the current 30 mph speed limit, had during this period received no response to several requests for speed reducing methods, nor a visit from a speed detector van to help reduce speeding," he wrote.

"Vehicles travel at 40/50 mph past residential properties on a daily basis, yet the recently new constructed estate is given very quick consideration for speed reductions.