The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has welcomed the announcement of the decision by the Department for Transport (DfT) to overturn the proposed turning ban on heavy lorries using the Grade II-listed Cleveland Bridge in Bath.

The confirmation that the DfT had upheld the appeal by Wiltshire Council, Somerset Council and The Highways Agency was received as good news to the FTA who had provided written support to the appeal on behalf of its members.

After due consideration the DfT saw the process that B&NES had put in place was not robust and evidential and subsequently the appeal was up-held saying ‘an alternative scheme had to be found.’

Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Council had wanted to impose an 18-tonne turning restriction on the A36 which would have taken the road out of the primary route network.  The ban would have effectively stopped lorries using the A46-A4-A36 trunk roads to access Southampton, Dorset and south Wiltshire from the M4.  The B&NES proposal had meant that that HGVs would have to use local roads resulting in a detour for the vehicles of 45 miles.
Ian Gallagher, FTA policy manager – South West & Wales said:

“FTA is pleased to see that common sense has prevailed by the DfT over what we considered is a half-hearted attempt by Bath & North East Somerset to disrupt the primary route network in the South West based on weak information at best.

“This decision is a clear statement from government which reinforces the importance of the primary route network; firstly as a route with national importance and should not therefore, be looked at in isolation on a local level.”

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