Bath Lorry ban - what the Highways Agency say
Although claiming they haven't made a formal objection to the plan by BaNES to put a lorry ban on the A36 at Cleveland Bridge, the Highways Agency have sent a strongly-worded letter to the authority setting out why they think the proposal is a bad idea.
The Highways Agency have the job of running the country's main roads - motorways and trunk roads. Normally the A36 would be within their remit, but for what's described as 'historic maintenance reasons' BaNES have control of the road at Cleveland Bridge.
Proposal could hit the economy
The letter states: "Our fundamental objections to the scheme (are) that the proposal would result in a discontinuity of the strategic southern route for commercial traffic with a resultant significant diversion. Other concerns included ... the increase in HGV traffic on the congested M5 link between junctions 18 & 19 and the M32 junction 1, and the quality and ambiguity of the information and instructions to be given to our customers as they follow the well-established route south and find it is no longer available to them."
After complaing about the lack of response from BaNES to the HA's concerns the letter continues: "This section still forms part of a wider strategic route for north/south transport movements. Given its importance to the strategic network and by default the UK economy, a measure such as this should be considered carefully and should ideally be supported by a clear strategy for the movement of freight around Bath."
The writer concludes: "For the avoidance of doubt I can confirm that the Highways Agency's position has not changed. We consider the proposal to be detrimental to the function and operation of the Strategic Road Network and that there is no coherent strategy to support the reallocation of freight movements. Given the above, I would urge you to reconsider your position and trust this clarifies the Agency's position for your members."