An 18-tonne weight restriction comes into effect on 1st May on a route on the outskirts of Bath known as a notoriously difficult climb for HGVs.
There were more than 30 objections to a recent consultation run by Bath & North East Somerset Council and a handful in support of the proposed weight limit order between the Globe Roundabout on the A4 Bristol Road and the Red Lion Roundabout on the A367 junction with Wellsway.
The route includes Pennyquick, Whiteway Road, Rush Hill and Frome Road.
Concerns raised included the impacts on air quality and safety due to the displacement of HGVs, and the feasibility of enforcement.
Addressing the concerns, a council report says: “The origins and destinations of vehicles over 18 tonnes are highly varied, with many route choices most likely made outside of B&NES or even beyond neighbouring authorities.
“Because of this, it is not possible to reliably predict a single alternative route which displaced vehicles might use.
“Classified traffic surveys show that fewer than 50 vehicles over 18 tonnes per direction currently use Pennyquick, Whiteway Road, Rush Hill and Frome Road on a weekday (and fewer than 20 on Saturdays), equating to fewer than five per hour in each direction.
“Given the nature and purpose of HGV movements, any displacement would be expected to be spread across several strategic routes, resulting in a negligible impact on any individual corridor such as the A37.”
The report adds: “The route of Pennyquick, Whiteway Road, Rush Hill and Frome Road are ‘C’ classified roads, primarily intended for local traffic and not for use by larger HGVs. The route includes very steep gradients and constrained geometry.
“It is acknowledged that other routes used by HGVs can share similar characteristics, but this is not a reason to condone the use of the route in question by larger vehicles.”
It also notes that any dispersal across the wider strategic road network is “very unlikely to have a negative impact on environmental issues elsewhere, including in designated Air Quality Management Areas within B&NES or neighbouring authorities”.
It is recognised that there may be schools along the routes to which some of the HGVs could be displaced “but it is very likely that these routes would form part of the ‘A’ and ‘B’ classified road network and, as such, these are more suitable routes for use by larger vehicles”.
The report observes: “As with all weight limits, enforcement would follow standard practice: compliance is primarily achieved through clear signage and legal restriction, with enforcement undertaken as appropriate.”
Local councillor Joel Hirst, who is also the council’s cabinet member for sustainable transport strategy, said: “Residents in Odd Down have discussed this issue with me on the doorstep and it is very clear to me that this restriction will help keep through traffic on the appropriate through routes and protect more residential areas.”
