PARKING restrictions in Lulworth are set to be delayed after objections were raised.

It comes following a surge in visitors over the summer holidays.

The summer saw cars parked on either side of the road that leads down from the entrance to Durdle Door campsite to the village of West Lulworth and Lulworth Cove, making it difficult for traffic and emergency vehicles to pass.

Dorset County Council launched a consultation in April to extend the double yellow lines for parking from Church Road up to Daggers Gate on the edge of West Lulworth village.

Temporary parking signs were then put out advising drivers not to park along the road during the summer season and would represent where the extension of permanent double yellow lines would be.

However, after resident Dave Norton asked about the parking situation at the August meeting of West Lulworth Parish Council, councillors said that the consultation which had recently ended would have to go to the Dorset County Council regulatory committee in September after several objections were raised.

Fellow resident Pete Townsend asked if the temporary signs were enforceable as they are being moved and camper vans were blocking the pathway, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road.

In response, DCC Cllr Cherry Brooks stated that West Lulworth was a high priority but there are other hotspot areas that parking officers have to attend.

During the August and May bank holiday weekends, many drivers also described the drive down to the beauty spot as ‘chaotic’ and ‘hideous’ due to drivers parking on the side of the road and blocking traffic.

An estimated 10,000 daytrippers visited the area during both weekends with many holidaymakers heading for the cove and for Dorset’s iconic Durdle Door.

Tourist Mandy Brown from Southampton said that the traffic during August bank holiday was hideous with many cars parked "inconsiderately".

She added that the problems could be avoided if drivers only parked on one side of the road.

Cllr Laura Miller, who lives in West ,Lulworth added that the family spent most of the day at home because they couldn't get their cars out of the drive.

Cllr Brooks said work had been ongoing to look at the parking issues and it was the councils view that it would be better to have double yellow lines on both sides of the road.

She added: "Evidence had been received from emergency services that when roads had been kept clear on both sides they could get through faster."

The family-owned Lulworth Estate, which includes a five-mile stretch of the Jurassic Coast, Lulworth Castle, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, says it is working with Dorset County Council and the Highways Agency to increase the parking restrictions.

Cllr Barry Quinn, who represents Lulworth and Winfirth on Purbeck District Council, said that partners involved were still working to get the restrictions put in place.

He added that the majority of objections were raised by residents outside the Lulworth area.

Dorset County Council said the highway authority was looking to extend parking restrictions and would be discussing this at an upcoming meeting.