'MINIMAL' maintenance is required on an 'overgrown' gateway to Bridport, according to council chiefs.

As reported, the deteriorating state of the East Road (Mitsubishi) roundabout along with the Crown roundabout, both on the A35, have been the subject of much debate over the past few months with complaints they are 'neglected' and a 'bad advertisement' for the town.

Now Dorset Council has claimed minimal maintenance is required on the East Road roundabout, and that wild flowers will be blooming soon making the site look attractive.

Despite the East Road Roundabout being the responsibility of Highways England, Dorset Council is currently responsible for the maintenance of the roundabout after carrying out the Sea Road cycling improvement works.

A Dorset Council spokesman said: “Following cycleway improvement works in the area, Dorset Council is currently responsible for the vegetation management of the roundabout until March next year, when it will transfer back to Highways England.

“An assessment of the roundabout identified over 24 species of wildflower which are currently establishing and will, over the coming weeks, bloom into a myriad of colour and create a great biodiverse habitat for pollinators.

“The maintenance required is minimal, work planned includes a high mow of long grass in the area, the removal of three bramble streamers and an additional sow of wildflower seed on areas that have yet to take hold.”

Councillor Ian Bark, the Mayor of Bridport, said: "The brambles are unfortunately collecting mountains of litter - there isn't really any grass there to mow. Not sure what they're planning on mowing.

"Wildflowers include all sorts of things which aren't necessarily the most attractive - it's still going to be an eye sore. Unless you get every bit of root out, the brambles will continue to grow and attract litter."

Bridport Town Council submitted a proposed design to turn the roundabout into something more aesthetically pleasing but this was rejected on the grounds that it might be a possible distraction to motorists.

Cllr Bark added: "Across the county there is precedent for roundabouts being made attractive on trunk roads - the badger roundabout in Blandford for example. So really there is no foundation for saying that drivers might become distracted if we made the roundabout more attractive.

"Throughout the country there are many roundabouts which have been redesigned in this way. It seems to be one rule for other places and another for Bridport."

A spokesman for Highways England said that the company had recently cut grass and cleared litter on the Crown roundabout.