Traffic fears mount for 'degraded' tourist town

Paul Newman from Save Burford said lorries were damaging buildings

Residents in a tourist town have said constant heavy traffic is damaging historical buildings, causing pollution and blocking driveways.

Burford in Oxfordshire, known as the "Gateway to the Cotswolds", has hundreds of lorries and thousands of cars passing through it every day, resident Ken Gray said.

Paul Newman, from the campaign group Save Burford, said vibrations from passing HGVs were causing buildings to crumble.

He added that a plan to build 70 new homes in the town could exacerbate the traffic problems.

The A361 passes through the centre of Burford

Mr Newman said: "The traffic here is horrendous. We have 30-40 tonne waggons coming down a medieval lane, basically.

"Every time a truck passes by, it's degrading the property.

"If you go into some of the pubs, bars and restaurants, you can see it on the window ledge… You get the lime dropping off the mortar."

The campaigner said a draft proposal by West Oxfordshire District Council for a housebuilding site in Sheep Street was an additional traffic concern.

The A-road uses a narrow, medieval bridge over the River Windrush

Ken Gray, who lives near the town's single-lane, medieval bridge, said an estimated 400-600 lorries and 12,000 cars passed over it every day.

He said he was often unable to reach his own driveway due to traffic queues.

"It can be over a kilometre long, up on to the A40," he said. "There's so much noise as well."

An 18-month experimental ban on heavier lorries using the A361 through Burford ended in February 2022 and was not renewed.

Oxfordshire County Council previously said a target to reduce lorry traffic by 50% was not met.

Ken Gray said 400-600 lorries used the bridge every day

In a statement, the council said: "We understand that this has been a long-standing issue for the residents.

"We are continually exploring ways to manage and alleviate the traffic concerns."

The authority said it was planning a new zebra crossing and was working with partners on an area-wide lorry study.

West Oxfordshire District Council said residents could comment on its draft housing site until 22 December.

It said it had supported the lorry ban and was "in active discussions with the county council about possible future measures".

Burford Town Council said it was looking at ideas for coach and car parking to ease congestion.