Bath votes to ban HGVs

[Pete]

HGVs will be stopped from using the edge of Bath city centre as a through route to the M4 after a unanimous vote by councillors on Wednesday night (14th September).

http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2011/09/15/139473/Bath-City-council-votes-in-favour-of-HGV-ban.htm

...the calculation by Bath and North East Somerset Council officials that only two per cent of lorry drivers would opt to use the A350 through Wiltshire...

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Wiltshire-hits-lorry-row/story-11353169-detail/story.html

A Bath and North East Somerset Council spokesman says: "Bath and North East Somerset Council is looking at introducing a ban on HGVs using the Cleveland Bridge, which would greatly reduce the number of lorries entering [Bath] city centre. Such a ban would require agreement from Wiltshire County Council as they would have to accommodate a significant number of HGVs that would divert from Bath as a result."

http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2009/01/15/132697/Bath-HGV-ban-depends-on-Westbury-bypass-inquiry.htm

Pete

[Mike Hawkins]

I find elements of this story a little puzzling:

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/9256028.Wiltshire_fear_over_Bath_lorry_ban/

1. Trowbridge are concerned, Why? The A350 bypasses Trowbridge

2. Bradford on Avon (BoA) is concerned. Why? The estimate is that vehicles will come off the M4 at junction 17 and travel south along the A350. This does not go through BoA!

3. Wiltshire Council is concerned. They believe the traffic will come off the M4 at junction 17 and travel south along the A350 causing problems to BoA. Don't they know the A350 does not travel through Bradford on Avon?

4. Wiltshire Council, and our own Unitary Councillors, do not appear to realise, or care, that the vehicles banned from the Bath area and thus travel south down the A350 will travel through WESTBURY!  Their silence is deafening!!
(No doubt they are all working quietly, but very diligently in the background fighting this proposal; he said, facetiously!!)

[Mike Hawkins]

 I should add that this proposal has been known to the Town Council Highways and Planning Committee (and our Unitary Councillors) for months!!

Have they come to the conclusion that Westbury is of little or no importance to the "powers that be" other than a source of revenue, and so think "Why bother?"

PS: I am NOT "having a pop" at Westbury Town Council over this. They are powerless on this issue. Our representatives at County Hall must fight this one!

[LONDONER]

A Question to ask the unitary council what will be their action when the grade one & two listed buildings on the route of the A350 start to fall down and English heritage charge them with damage to a listed building

[Mojo]

Bradford on Avon (BoA) is concerned. Why? The estimate is that vehicles will come off the M4 at junction 17 and travel south along the A350. This does not go through BoA!

BoA are worried because some vehicles travelling Northwill turn off the A350 and cut through Bradford to get to Junction 18 to shorten the journey to M4, M5

The Bridge, Market Street and Masons Lane are even more unsuitable for LGVs than Westbury

Cheers

Mojo

[Mike Hawkins]

Bradford on Avon (BoA) is concerned. Why? The estimate is that vehicles will come off the M4 at junction 17 and travel south along the A350. This does not go through BoA!

BoA are worried because some vehicles travelling Northwill turn off the A350 and cut through Bradford to get to Junction 18 to shorten the journey to M4, M5

The Bridge, Market Street and Masons Lane are even more unsuitable for LGVs than Westbury

Cheers

Mojo

I agree to a point. BoA already has weight limits which presumably should show on drivers route maps/satnavs! They may get more LGV's BUT Westbury and Melksham will get more HGV's.

[Mojo]

BoA already has weight limits which presumably should show on drivers route maps/satnavs

And yet I've been stuck many a time trying to get through BoA because of LGVs ignoring the weight limit, and not just continental lorries.

They may get more LGV's BUT Westbury and Melksham will get more HGV's

I agree but I think you missed out the "a lot"after Melksham will get...

cheers

Mojo

[topskills]

well why cant we get a ban as well??

[Mike Hawkins]

well why cant we get a ban as well??

Because our Authority is not bright enough to do this!

[charlie finbow]

This was known when the bypass application was going through, so, the Government didn't care then and don't care now, that includes our so called local representatives.   Lets hope the nimbys welcome it, because its not their houses on the route of the A350 is it, or their familys who have to try to walk to town.   Lets face it wildlife is more important than people.   Old argument, when the M1 was built all the do gooders were up in arms saying how it would destroy natural habitat.   They now realise, and welcome, a completely different and more diverse series of wildlife and plants now occupy the M1 route.
The A350 wont be changed that's because its a major Trunk Road from the M4 to Southampton and the South.
Oh yeah not to mention the major works involved with Weymouth etc for the bloody Olympics.

[Monica Reyes]

We really need that bypass now can our town cope with anymore traffic on its roads? Its ok saying that Bath is a national heritage sight, but what about the lungs of the people of the smaller towns?are they not as important as buldings?