Bath HGV ban depends on Westbury bypass inquiry

A proposed HGV ban in Bath city centre hinges on the results of a public inquiry into a bypass for the town of Westbury, Wiltshire, on the A350.

Bath and North East Somerset Council would like to introduce a weight restriction on the A36 along the Warminster Road, Cleveland Bridge and Bathwick Street areas of Bath.

However such a move would divert traffic travelling south through the town on to the A350 and would therefore require the agreement of Wiltshire County Council.

But Wiltshire County Council is waiting for the outcome of a public inquiry conducted last year into the viability of a Westbury bypass on the A350.

A Bath and North East Somerset Council spokesman says: "Bath and North East Somerset Council is looking at introducing a ban on HGVs using the Cleveland Bridge, which would greatly reduce the number of lorries entering [Bath] city centre. Such a ban would require agreement from Wiltshire County Council as they would have to accommodate a significant number of HGVs that would divert from Bath as a result."

The council understands, he adds, that if the Westbury bypass is constructed, Wiltshire County Council will accept the use of the A350 as an alternative route for HGVs from the south. "This would then allow the council to introduce the restrictions on the use of Cleveland Bridge."

In a statement, Wiltshire County Council says it will object to Bath's plans until traffic management and environmental improvements are made to the A350, in particular the Westbury bypass, in order to mitigate the diversion of lorries from the A36 through Bath.