Make Cleveland Bridge 18 tonne ban permanent?

This seems to be the least Bath might gun for. There has been some recent correspondence on this site debating the failure to achieve such a ban in 2012. Has anything changed now and could a fresh approach be more successful?

Well for starters:

• the ban is now in effect due to structural defects in the bridge – so it is already in place and the long term effects on HGV drivers’ routeing decisions will be seen in due course.
• The Lib-Dems, not the Council, have launched a campaign this week to make the ban permanent by saying:

We the undersigned are asking Highways England to consider making the temporary 18 ton weight restriction on Cleveland Bridge permanent to protect the historic asset and surrounding fragile structures, encourage active travel, enhance the World Heritage site and conservation area, whilst improving community mental and physical health.

This has 153 signatories already on its way to a target of 250. They are also already citing a more pleasant experience on Bathwick Street – albeit we are in the first week. If it applies in Bathwick it will also be having some effect on London Road too and this was backed up by a local resident’s experience on a round trip to Box and back earlier this week.

All that must be quite encouraging for campaign leader, Manda Rigby. There is some concern here that coming from the Lib-Dem party, rather then the Lib Dem run council, it might appear doubly incendiary to the Conservative run neighbouring council in Wiltshire who may consider they will be the recipients of the HGV traffic Bath displaces. We think there may be some strong arguments to marshal in support of the ban as well as some groundwork to be done with haulage fleet managers. We stand by to help if required.