RESIDENTS have been told to stop writing to their local council because it is "stressing out staff".

Concerned residents were left furious after being told to stop writing to Ferndown Town Council about its decision to reduce the speed limit on the stretch of Ringwood Road between Trickett's Cross roundabout and Longham roundabout.

The town council received an influx of letters and emails after residents who live in Longham felt ignored by the plans.

In response, the council's traffic working party chairman Cathy Lugg, wrote to residents to explain the decision but also asked them to stop writing to the town council and instead write to her directly as the volume of letters was "causing extra stress for staff".

But residents were left even more frustrated by the response feeling that there was no where else they could vent their frustrations.

"It's just ridiculous - our council tax rates are going up and yet as residents we are being told to stop hassling the council because the staff are stressed," said Longham resident Mandy Willis.

"Surely the job of the town council is to communicate with residents who are there to hold them to account for its decisions.

"If we can't write to the town council where are we supposed to turn to get issues in the town sorted?"

In her letter to residents Cllr Lugg wrote: "The town council is working on a skeleton staff due to sickness and holiday at present and the large number of emails has caused extra stress for the staff.

"If you wish to respond further, may I request that you contact me directly through the town council website."

The town council, which is based in the Barrington Centre in the centre of Ferndown, employs six members of office staff – a town clerk, an assistant clerk, a part-time finance officer, an administration officer and two customer services assistants.

Residents were encouraged to write to the town council by East Dorset District councillor George Russell, asking it to resubmit the request to Dorset County Council to include the stretch of road all the way through to Bear Cross.

He wrote: "For reasons only known to the town council the section of Ringwood Road from Longham Bridge to the Longham roundabout is not included in the proposal despite repeated requests for me as your district councillor for this obvious change.

"As residents within Ferndown Town Council's jurisdiction I feel that you are being discriminated against.

"Should you agree with my concerns the I ask you to write or email the town council as a matter of urgency seeking an explanation for this discrimination and to request the proposed speed limit is applied to the entire length of Ringwood Road."

Cllr Russell even provided advice on how to make sure the letters had the "desired impact", informing residents that "the town council is obliged to acknowledge your letter".