Town councillors in Dorchester have backed a plea for further parking restrictions outside town centre homes.

Beech Court residents say they used to be plagued by staff and visitors to the former Dorset Council headquarters using the road for free parking – but since the council has moved out of South Walks House they now get the same problem from NHS visitors to the outpatients unit, which the building is now used for as well as others shopping and working in the town.

Beech Court is directly opposite the South Walks House building and already has some yellow lines, mainly around the corners off South Walks Road.

The no through road has two blocks of apartments – with the request for additional lines coming from the residents management board.

"When local councillors were consulted it was thought about 10 feet of extra yellow lines would be enough but on preparation of the submission and a proper measurement, a distance of 14-15 feet was felt to be a better length the clear the bend," said one of the directors John Watmore in a letter to Dorchester Town Council's environment and planning committee.

The residents submission says because there are no restrictions on part of the road vehicles of any size can park which can cause problems if another larger vehicle, or an emergency vehicle, needed to get through.

The request for the change, backed unanimoulsy by Dorchester councillors, will now go to Dorset Council asking it to make a new Traffic Regulation Order.

If Dorset Council agree the process involves advertising the proposal for public comment before a final decision is made.