WORK to repair Canford Bridge could have a knock-on effect to visitors and sales in Wimborne, traders say.

Wimborne Minster and District Chamber of Trade says the town could be hit with a double whammy, as East Dorset District Council is voting next month on proposed car parking increases, to raise nearly £60,000 extra cash.

And the chamber has suggested the district council should instead raise the cash by charging workers to park at its Furzehill headquarters, as traders have to pay parking charges to go to work.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Carillion Civil Engineering will carry out the £3million project on the bridge and Canford flood arches on behalf of the Borough of Poole and Dorset County Council.

The work will start on March 31 and run until December, with the bridge closed entirely for 18 weeks from mid-June until October.

James Hampton, chairman of the Wimborne Minster and District Chamber of Trade, said it had not been consulted over the bridge closures, which would have allowed them to make contingency plans.

"I think the thoroughfare that Poole bridge offers to Wimborne is essential. It becomes pretty much an island if you remove the bridge," he said.

"I understand they have to repair the bridge.

"Working 24 hours could make it a three-month project, not a six month project."

Wimborne Minster town mayor Cllr Anthony Oliver said the biggest concern was adequate signage.

"We want to assure everybody that the town is well and truly still open," he said.

Colehill Parish Council chairman Cllr Keith Baker recently called on Dorset County Council to push back the timetable to start traffic calming measures to Middlehill Road, Colehill, fearing the combination of the bridge work and the traffic calming will cause chaos.