Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The latest information...

It is now 'odds-on' that B&NES will implement their HGV ban.

Despite strong representations from Wiltshire Council and the concerns of the Highways Agency it now seems a near certainty that B&NES council will go ahead with their plans to put an 'experimental' weight limit on Cleveland Bridge on the A36 in Bath.

This will result in HGVs having to find alternative routes. Despite a previous 'undertaking', B&NES is now declining to help with monitoring traffic flows in Wiltshire.

However, Wiltshire's transport cabinet member has agreed to install traffic counters on routes which are vulnerable to increased freight traffic, including the B3105 through Staverton, at Wiltshire Council's expense.

The latest estimate for the introduction of the lorry ban is late May.

Five counters are being installed at a cost of £20,000 to Wiltshire taxpayers at the following sites:

A350 Semington

A350 South of Westbury

A363 Farleigh Wick

A363 between Bradford on Avon and Trowbridge

B3105 Staverton.