THE road closure implemented on the Sandbanks Peninsula after an influx of visitors on Saturday “avoided a small problem becoming a crisis”.

BCP Councill, along with Dorset Police, closed the road leading to Sandbanks Peninsula after the carparks filled up on Saturday morning.

Chairman of the Sandbanks Community Group, David Morley, said: “It was dramatic, I have to say all credit to BCP Council and the police for getting ahead of the problem before it occurred.

“This would have been the busiest day of the year, normally it would be heaving.

“We wrote a letter to the council about the concerns we had about what happened last summer and how we could improve this summer.

“We have had discussions with the council and police and they have taken it very seriously.

“The car park was full by 9.15am, there’s no point people coming down here. I think with the road closure, they have been very tactical and strategic, they have been planning to have this available.”

Mr Morley said the mood in Sandbanks was a lot better as a result of the closure and having a police presence helped the situation.

“It avoids a small problem becoming a crisis,” he added. “I spoke to the police and they said people were pretty well-behaved.

“With a police presence, it’s quite clear there is a plan here to deal with this, it calms the whole situation down.

“If you want to come to Sandbanks, you are welcome, who wouldn’t want to come here? But you have to behave and get here early or there’s no point.

“The police have got on top of it, they are managing it with a light hand. There was no aggravation, it was not heavy-handed.

“The council and the police have really listened to what the community has said. It’s about working constructively together to figure out better ways to deal with this situation.”

Mr Morley said he had received messages from members of the community group, expressing their appreciation for the road closure, describing Sandbanks as “tranquil” and “much more tolerable”.