POLICE are to be asked to step up their patrols to stop motorists from driving through the centre of Yeovil.

Although members of Yeovil Town Council have been delighted with the improvements made to the Borough area, they are concerned that some motorists are still ignoring signs telling them not to drive through the restricted area of the High Street.

And Somerset County Council's principal traffic planner, Mike Bellamy, said: "A lack of enforcement is an on-going problem.

"It is a matter for the police authority and its traffic warden service to consider. We are going to fire off a letter to the police to highlight the issues and get more enforcement."

Cllr David Recardo highlighted the problem on Tuesday when he was amazed at the number of people who were still driving through the Borough area and parking outside the Burger King takeaway restaurant.

"I'm glad the police are getting involved," he said. "I was in Burger King the other day having a cup of coffee and there were lots of people pulling up outside, going in and sitting down and having a meal. There were loads of them."

Other amendments to traffic regulations in the Borough which are to be impose are as follows:

The loading bay on the north side of High Street to be for disabled parking between 11am and 4pm.

A total loading ban on the eastern side of Silver Street outside Marks and Spencer and opposite the taxi rank.

Replace the disabled orange badges with blue badges on signs at all locations.

Install bus stop road markings in front of the buy lay-by in the Borough.

Install double yellow lines at the junction of Wine Street with the Borough.

Enhance the markings and signs at the taxi rank in Silver Street.

Install a dropped crossing and tactile paving at the Union Street and Middle Street junction.

Shorten the loading bay in Union Street to avoid obstruction.

The relocation of the taxi rank from Middle Street to Silver Street has, however, remained a matter of controversy among cab drivers.