A POOLE community school which has installed a barrier across its car park entrance has upset Hamworthy library users by its “unfriendly” action.

Carter Community School, which has designated five spaces for library users outside the barrier, says the need to protect child safety forced its hand.

But residents who regularly use the library and its café and attend meetings there, fear the lack of parking will force people away.

Di Cridland, who goes to a weekly seniors’ exercise class at the library said the barrier had come as a shock: “Cutting us off from a car park we have used for years. The car park has never been full.”

She lives too far away to walk and said many exercisers had replacement hips and other joints. “It’s ridiculous. We are really disappointed and frustrated by it.”

Sylvia Cannon, one of 18 people who attends the same class, gets her books from the library and attends meetings said: “The one thing we have tried to do is support the library and all the community things that go with it.

“I am concerned that it will not be so well used. If there is nowhere to park it is going to turn people away.”

Audrey Holloway, runs the 14-strong No.1 Ladies Reading Group, a book group of Hamworthy Townswomen’s Guild, and all members arrive at the library with bags of heavy books.

“We are 60 to 80 years-old. It’s a struggle to find a car park anywhere. It’s quite upsetting. What are we to do?” she said.

Cllr Mike White, who represents Hamworthy East described the barrier as a “seriously unfriendly gesture”. He said he had received many complaints from residents. “People feel very upset that Carter should be doing this.

“I would seriously ask the school to reconsider their decision,” he added.

A spokesman for the United Learning academy said: “As a school, the safety of our children has to be our number one priority. The barrier is one means of reducing the traffic which is essential when you have children entering and leaving the school and using the site at different times throughout the day.

“Previously, the library had four designated parking places. We have increased this to five in the front of the school and have been fully supported by the library in doing so. We are in discussions with Poole Borough Council about other means of reducing traffic.

“We of course do not want to make it harder for people to use the library which is why we have increased its parking provision. However, we do need to ensure the safety of our children above everything else.”