Dorchester town councillors have backed residents of Kings Road in attempts to slow traffic down.

A resident, who recently moved to the area, describes speeding on the road as "out of control" and has asked for help.

"It's the mindless speeding at night and in quieter times of the day that are extremely dangerous," said a letter to the town council, which points out that the area has a playing field, which most people need to cross the road to get to.

It also pointed out that some houses had front gates directly onto the road and it was the only access – via Lubbecke Way – to the town household recycling centre.

Dorset Council said that the last time a speed survey was taken in the road it was just under the criteria for a Speed Indicator Device, which flashes up a driver's speed, or reads "thank you" if travelling under the 30 mile per hour speed limit.

The only other solution, the town council was told, is to try and persuade the police to use speed cameras in the road from time to time, which is not likely to be seen as a priority.

The town council's planning and environment committee voted to recommend that it pays for a speed survey as the first step in assessing the problem.

Councillors also agreed to write to Dorset Council to repeat its calls for a 20mph speed limit on Lubbecke Way, off Kings Road.

Cllr Richard Biggs said that Dorset Council wanted the previous request to be made again – this time on a new request form it has produced to consider new 20mph limits, along with a survey of residents living in the area.

The town council had called for the lower speed limit when the road was allocated as the new route to the Louds Mill household recycling centre, after the previous route was closed.

"Dorset Council say they have told us that it needs doing and we have not done it and the only 20mph application they have seen from us is for Poundbury," said Cllr Biggs,

"If we want it considered, we will have to do it the way they want."

He added that there might have been "a communication problem" between the two councils.