Proposed Weight Restriction on A368 – Decision No

Proposed Weight Restriction on A368 – Decision No. 06/07 DE 392

 

Overview

 

This note has been prepared for the Strategic Planning and Economic Development Panel (SPED) in order to assist them in consideration of the above decision, upon which a report was taken to the Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, Cllr Crockford-Hawley, on 15th January 2007.

 

Whilst the report and accompanying appendices have been provided to the SPED panel, this notes seeks to inform them of the various views and the responses put forward by the key stakeholders in this debate.

 

Survey Analysis

 

Whilst the council has, in partnership with Somerset County Council, conducted a full set of detailed RoadSide Interview Surveys (RSIs), the lead organisation pushing for a restriction is unhappy about the analysis that was carried out on the data (although it should be noted that there is agreement about the actual numbers of HGVs using the surveyed roads).

 

Traffic Management in The Villages (TMTV) maintain that due to the methodology of the analysis undertaken, the true number of HGVs travelling ‘through’ (as opposed to ‘for access’) has been distorted. This is because in the technical analysis undertaken by Somerset County Council, the ‘local’ (and therefore appropriate) traffic has been taken to mean those using the route with an origin or destination within 10 miles[1].

 

TMTV believe that ‘local’ traffic should mean HGVs that have an origin or destination on the section of the A368 that would be covered by the restriction, and that all other HGVs should therefore be subject to a restriction. They have produced a large amount of material which they have submitted to the council, culminating in a technical reposte to the A368 study. This document opines that there is, in fact, a number of viable alternatives for many of the journeys that were identified in the RSI carried out in July 2006. These alternative routes are set out in a spreadsheet which is attached to this note (attachment 1).

 

In order to establish the extent to which there may be any fact in TMTV’s assertions, the council asked a sample of hauliers why they weren’t using the alternatives as set out by TMTV. Their responses indicate that in many cases the calculations set out by TMTV are incorrect and the suggested alternative is actually longer. It also highlights how sensitive local businesses are to changes in haulage distance or time; these responses are also attached (attachment 2).

 

Communications since the Report

 

Since the report was taken to the Executive Member it has been circulated to members of the North Somerset Freight Working Group due to the level of interest in this decision.

 

The council has received a number of emails from interested parties, and the majority seem to support TMTV’s view that a restriction on the A368 between Churchill crossroads and Blagdon at the district border would be the best solution. However, this is despite the council pointing out on numerous occasions that this is not a deliverable option without the support of Bath and North East Somerset council, as a weight restriction must start and end at a junction[2].

 

Both Blagdon Parish and Yatton Parish councils have said that they do not share the views of TMTV, with Blagdon PC[3] stating that the pain (of HGV movements) should be shared, and that any gain for one will inevitably result in losses for the other.

 

Summary

 

TMTV and other stakeholders such as CPRE and numerous residents are keen that a restriction is implemented on A368 between the A38 (Churchill crossroads) and the district border.  The hauliers maintain that the alternative routes proposed by TMTV cannot be used without incurring additional costs in terms of time/fuel or both thereby making these uneconomic.

 

Whilst the majority of correspondence from residents has been supportive of a restriction, some responses have recognised that the limited routes across the Mendips should share the load of HGVs.

 

 

 

Stephen Walford

Principal Transport Policy Officer x8519

 

 

 

Attachments:  TMTV Alternative Route Analysis

                        Haulier responses to ‘alternative’ routes


[1] This is the same methodology as was used in the July 2004 study which looked at HGVs using the A371 in Banwell.

[2] If a road is restricted, then vehicles need some way of avoiding it i.e. being able to turn off the road; the appropriate junction is within BaNES highway jurisdiction, hence the need for their support.

[3] As received from the Parish Clerk as the opinion of the council. The council has also received communications from Blagdon Parish Council’s rep on TMTV, which support the TMTV view.