Ban Doc Martin from 'Port Wenn' say villagers

TOP rated television comedy drama Doc Martin has been blamed for an influx of tourists who are causing traffic chaos in the narrow streets of Port Isaac.

Now some locals are calling for the grumpy GP to be banned from the village in future episodes and to transfer his practice to a different location.

On Monday night more than 30 frustrated residents filled the village school hall to protest to St Endellion Parish Council about parking problems.

The village roads have been crammed with vehicles, some parking dangerously, with visitors from as far afield as Australia flocking to the real life setting of the 'Port Wenn' location where the ITV series has been filmed.

Locals say many tourists have been leaving their vehicles by the children's play area between Garrick to Trewetha, which poses a danger to young users.

Mother Debbie Pattenden said: "We need to take this seriously before we lose one of our children. It is extremely dangerous, especially when they want to go to the park. When you drive around the cars, you end up on the wrong side of the road on a blind corner; it won't be long until someone is killed. We need to do something now before it gets worse."

Some angry residents suggested future filming of Doc Martin in Port Isaac should be banned.

Resident Ted Charles said: "We have had the golden egg from the filming and we have enough visitors now. Surely they have enough footage of Port Isaac on file so they don't need to come back? We have heard that next year they will be filming from May to August. That would be a complete disaster and the parking problem will only escalate. For the past two years friends who have enjoyed coming to the village for years have not been able to stay in holiday cottages because they have been rented to the crew."

B & B owner Marion Andrews said: "It is the height of summer and I have a room empty because all my regular customers enjoyed coming to the village because they wanted peace and quiet. Now it's far too busy for them."

Resident Janet Chadband said: "The attitude is starting to turn into anti-visitor and we all know that the village needs tourists to sustain local businesses but we do need to sort out the problem of parking."

In response the parish council said it was writing to County Highways to request yellow lines from Garrick to Trewetha and from Trewetha Lane to Lundy Road to try and ease the problem.

They also said they had been in discussions with resident Barry Cleave about using one of his fields next to the play area as a car park.

Chairman Dave Phelps said: "We have a meeting with all relevant bodies on Tuesday, August 19 to find some satisfactory solutions." Producers of the ITV drama were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.