Bath lorry ban could impact Bradford-on-Avon

A ban on heavy lorries passing through Bath could impact on traffic levels passing through a Wiltshire town.

Councillors in Bath say the A36 is being used as a rat-run between the M4 and the south coast and are proposing an 18-month trial of the measure.

But Wiltshire Council fears lorries would leave the M4 at junction 17 at Chippenham instead, impacting the A363 through Bradford-on-Avon and the B3105.

If the measures are passed a consultation period would then start.

'Turning restrictions'

Under the proposals vehicles weighing more than 18 tonnes would be prohibited from using part of the A36.

The move would involve restrictions on HGVs turning between Bathwick Street and Beckford Road.

Speaking earlier this year the Liberal Democrat-controlled Bath and North East Somerset (Banes) council said the weight limit was one of several measures being considered.

A meeting of the Bradford-on-Avon area board meeting on Wednesday evening will hear of Conservative-led Wiltshire Council's concerns over the plan.

Senior trading standards officer Tom Hutchinson will outline a proposal for a lorry watch scheme to monitor the numbers of HGVs through the centre of Bradford-on-Avon should Banes council implement the proposals.

The scheme would see volunteers patrol the town's bridge, where there is a 17.5 tonne weight limit, to record the registration plates of any offending vehicles.

"Wiltshire Trading Standards would pass on the details of offending vehicles to the DVLA (Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency), which could result in prosecutions through the magistrates courts," the council spokesman added.