Seven drivers were recently convicted for breaching the 18-tonne weight limit in place on Cleveland Bridge in Bath.
Cleveland Bridge in Bath | Photo © Bath Echo
Bath & North East Somerset Council has reminded drivers of vehicles of over 18 tonnes gross maximum weight that they cannot cross the bridge on the A36 in Bath due to the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order, which has been extended until October 2025.
Due to the nature of its construction and historic importance, Cleveland Bridge was made the subject of the weight limit order in 2020, which was most recently renewed in October 2024 for 12 months, enforced by an ANPR camera system.
Seven more drivers were convicted earlier this month for breaching the current weight restriction, following prosecutions by the local authority.
It is an offence under Section 16 (1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to breach the weight restriction, and the council’s Trading Standards team and the police have the power to enforce it.
Numerous advance warning signs regarding the restriction are in place on all the major arterial roads leading into Bath and on the roads leading to the bridge.
The council is formally investigating breaches following an initial period of soft enforcement when the restriction was implemented, during which time drivers were issued with warning letters.
On 15th January, Bath Magistrates’ Court heard how seven vehicles which exceeded the gross maximum weight limit were identified crossing Cleveland Bridge during June and July 2024.
Their drivers were ordered to pay fines and costs.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for transport, said: “We have extended the weight restriction in place on the Grade II* listed Cleveland Bridge to protect its safety and integrity whilst monitoring continues.
“As a structural weight restriction, the order applies to all vehicles including coaches and therefore it is illegal to breach it if your vehicle’s gross maximum weight is over 18 tonnes.
“Thank you to our Trading Standards team for their work in bringing these prosecutions.
“We know that out of all of the vehicles going over the bridge from October 2022 until now, only 0.08% are exceeding the weight limit and are at risk of enforcement.
“Since monitoring began, we have had 12.5 million trips over the bridge and less than 11k exceedances have been observed, companies warned and where appropriate enforced against.
“We encourage drivers of larger vehicles travelling through Bath to be aware of the plated weight and individual axle weights for their vehicle and to plan their route well in advance, so that Cleveland Bridge can be avoided during your journey.”
The cases heard on 15th January 2025 at Bath Magistrates Court were:
- Jarvid Hanif was driving a coach with a maximum gross weight of 19 tonnes. He appeared and pleaded guilty and was fined £107, ordered to pay victim surcharge £43 and contribution to costs of £375.
- Victor Lockwood was driving a lorry with a maximum gross weight of 26 tonnes. He appeared and pleaded guilty and was fined £143, ordered to pay victim surcharge of £57 and contribution to costs of £375.
- Regan Mascarenas was driving a coach with a maximum gross weight of 18.75 tonnes. He appeared and pleaded guilty and was fined £180, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £72 and contribution to costs of £375.
- Nikola Petrov was driving a lorry with a maximum gross weight of 32 tonnes. He appeared and pleaded guilty and was fined £215, ordered to pay victim surcharge of £86 and contribution to costs of £375.
- Derek Wade was driving a coach with a maximum gross weight of 19 tonnes. He appeared and pleaded guilty and was fined £143, ordered to pay victim surcharge of £57 and contribution to costs of £375.
- David Winfield was driving a lorry with a maximum gross weight of 40 tonnes. He appeared and pleaded guilty and was fined £153, ordered to pay victim surcharge of £61 and contribution to costs of £375.
- Gordon Rattray was driving a coach with a maximum gross weight of 26 tonnes. He did not appear and the charge was formally proved and Rattray was ordered to pay a fine of £330, a victim surcharge of £132 and contribution to costs of £750.
