A NOTORIOUS bottleneck in North Dorset dubbed 'Village of the Jammed' claimed its latest victim earlier this week - an ambulance that had blue light flashing.

The ambulance, which was heading north along the C13 at Melbury Abbas, became practically wedged against a HGV which was travelling along the same narrow road in the opposite direction.

Residents of Melbury Abbas have been campaigning for years about the C13, which is often used by vehicles simply too wide for others to pass.

Currently, there are electronic warning signs on nearby Christy's Lane instructing lorry drivers heading south towards Poole to take the B3081 onto the C13 through Dinah's Hollow and Melbury Abbas, rather than using the A350. However, drivers routinely become unable to pass on the narrow carriageway.

William Kenealy, chairman of Melbury Abbas and Cann Group Parish Council told the Daily Echo: "This ambulance was coming north along the C13 with blue lights flashing and the lorry was going south, and there simply was not enough room.

"The ambulance was trapped for 30 minutes and the police had to be called, but by the time they arrived the lorry pulled off and clipped off the wing mirror of the ambulance.

"This is a larger issue, we have signs to try and get the lorries going south

"We think the signs, which went up earlier this year, should be taken down. Local drivers know the lay of the land, but what happens is you get drivers from overseas who don't understand the physical restraints.

"If you are using a proper lorry Sat Nav, I understand, it will not take you that way."

The incident, which delayed the ambulance by around 30 minutes, took place around 12.20pm on Monday. (JULY 3)

Mr Kenealy said: "This route was consulted on for over two years, but without talking to the ambulance service, the police, or the fire brigade - and, of course, not to residents in our parish."

South Western Ambulance Service were unavailable for comment.

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DESIGN proposals to improve the two north Dorset routes were put on display by Dorset County Council last month.

Following a voluntary one-way system for HGVs implemented in 2016, the council says it has been working with action groups, residents and local councils to prepare designs to improve the A350 and C13 for all drivers.

DCC highways and emergency planning director Andrew Martin, said: "We've worked closely with parish councils and listening to their feedback, we’ve now got improvement options for residents along the A350 and C13 to consider.

"The scope of this scheme is constrained by the existing footprint of the road, but there are several options of how we can better manage the traffic using these two roads to keep residents and freight companies moving freely."

Improvements being looked at include:

BLOB carriageway resurfacing

BLOB speed limit review on A350 and C13

BLOB formalising HGV Routing via implementation of Traffic Regulation Order

BLOB vehicle activated signs (VAS)

BLOB traffic engineering solutions

BLOB junction improvements

BLOB maintenance of existing temporary signals in Dinah's Hollow

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