Council will ‘formally oppose’ Bath’s plans which could shunt polluting traffic on to Wiltshire’s roads

WILTSHIRE Council has published a ‘robust’ open letter in response to Bath & North East Somerset Council’s (BANES) proposals to restrict heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) using Cleveland Bridge in Bath, on the A36.

Wiltshire Council has warned that if this goes ahead, more heavy vehicles will be using alternative routes through Wiltshire, increasing traffic volume and further damaging air quality. Melksham, with the A350 running through the centre of the town, is likely to suffer particularly from any increase in HGVs.

Wiltshire Council says, “The letter clearly sets out Wiltshire’s position, and expresses the council’s disappointment that, despite BANES’ promises for the two councils to work closely together, Wiltshire was not consulted on the proposals.

“The plans are due to be discussed at BANES’ next Cabinet meeting, on 16th December, and propose to extend the Bath Clean Air Zone (CAZ) to include the Cleveland Bridge area,

which would see diesel-powered vehicles weighing over 12 tonnes having to pay a charge to enter the CAZ.

“If this went ahead, fewer HGVs may use this section of the A36, with many of these vehicles using roads in Wiltshire instead, as a route to and from the M4. This would potentially have a detrimental impact on traffic volumes and air quality in West Wiltshire towns and villages.”

Wiltshire Council’s response, in the letter from leader of the council, cllr Richard Clewer, says, “The report falls short of exploring many other options available to deal with any air quality hot spots and wrongly singles out weight limit as the only viable option.”

The letter makes it clear that Defra’s CAZ framework supports Wiltshire Council’s position: “In implementing a Clean Air Zone, local authorities will need to consider the impact on local residents, and the need for any mitigating measures… ensuring that Clean Air Zone proposals will not result in the displacement of the most polluting vehicles away from town centres to surrounding areas.”

Cllr Clewer adds, “I will not condone any proposal which simply shunts polluting vehicles away from Bath on to Wiltshire’s roads and has an adverse effect on communities and residents in West Wiltshire,” before clearly setting out Wiltshire Council’s position: “I can confirm that Wiltshire Council will formally oppose any proposal that (to summarise Defra’s guidance) ‘…results in the displacement of the most polluting vehicles…to surrounding areas’.”

Finally, cllr Clewer stresses the need for continued dialogue between the two councils, and other agencies, including National Highways saying, “The National Highways M4 to Dorset Coast Strategic study is, in my view, the only way to properly deal with this issue. I am very happy to work collaboratively with you in support of that study to find positive solutions to improving the highways network throughout the region.”