Lorry restriction plans to be drawn up for Biggleswade, Sandy and Potton
Plans to restrict lorries travelling through Biggleswade, Potton, Sandy and several nearby villages would avoid “a money-making exercise”, according to a local councillor.
The aim of any structural or environmental restrictions “isn’t to punish companies”, a Central Bedfordshire Council traffic management meeting heard.
A petition was signed by nearly 1,000 local residents three years ago, but a clear strategy with a map of the area being covered has still to be produced.
The petition called on CBC to bring about a ban on vehicles of more than 7.5 tonnes using secondary freight routes passing through Sandy, Potton and Wrestlingworth on the B1042, and through Biggleswade and Potton on the B1040.
It acknowledged “any such provision wouldn’t apply to vehicles delivering to the area in question, or driving to and from a base or office” locally.
“These provisions would be used to also ban these lorries from passing through the villages of Everton, Dunton, Eyeworth, Wrestlingworth and Sutton,” said the petition.
There are no primary but two secondary freight routes within the study area, the B1040 (Biggleswade to Potton) and the B1042 (Sandy to Wrestlingworth), according to the traffic management report.
Highways officers noted: “HGV movements within the area are associated with local access, rather than strategic through traffic, so an area-wide restriction would have limited effect.”
CBC’s head of traffic management Kyle Stewart told the meeting: “Officers presented a report in November 2024 based on a request for an area-wide weight limit for Potton, Sandy and Biggleswade.
“We were asked to do more analysis, working with ward councillors, including extra traffic surveys to better understand the volume and nature of vehicle movements in the area,” he said.
“As part of that review, we worked with officers from Cambridgeshire County Council and liaised with Bedfordshire Police. The option to target the six most badly-affected sites would likely displace traffic to other roads in the catchment area.
“The outcome doesn’t show the level of problem with HGVs needed to meet the thresholds in the freight strategy, which is adopted council policy. But officers are committed to working with ward members on a suitable resolution.”
Independent Potton councillor Adam Zerny explained: “Potton is a Georgian market town and it’s struggling to adapt to modern roads.
“There’s a certain amount we can’t do, such as move homes or shift streets. But we can alter restrictions. Enforcement would be an issue for Beds Police.
“The council would have the option of cameras. But this shouldn’t be seen as a way of increasing income for the local authority. Any company operating in this area or making deliveries wouldn’t be covered under this.
“We need a more detailed plan for the next meeting, which can then be put out for consultation.”
Independent Biggleswade West councillor Steve Watkins suggested “many areas in the town were Edwardian or Victorian, being built before cars and certainly lorries were even conceived of”, adding: “An area-wide environmental weight limit would be welcome.
“It’s not a money-making exercise. We’re pro-business and don’t want to punish companies, but we expect them to be good neighbours. I’d like to see a concrete plan around how this can be implemented.”
Independent Aspley and Woburn councillor John Baker, who chairs the meeting, said: “I can clearly see the benefits of an area-wide HGV restriction, which is definitely something we should pursue.
“I like the idea of bringing a plan to the next meeting, and let’s attempt to make that happen.”