Wentworth Drive Lorry Ban Essential Say Lib Dems (North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats)

North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats <bedford@bedfordlibdems.org>

Wentworth Drive Lorry Ban Essential Say Lib Dems

December 20, 2008 10:10 AM

Liberal Democrat Councillors want to see a weight limit in place on Wentworth Drive in Putnoe to stop the flow of 100 lorries every day

Putnoe Liberal Democrats' campaign for a lorry ban for Wentworth Drive has continued with a demand for a weight limit to stop the flow of 100 Heavy Goods Vehicles along the road every day. The County Council recently agreed to impose a weight limit to stop HGVs using Putnoe Lane, but have refused to introduce the same measure to stop the high volume of lorries travelling along Wentworth Drive.

Wentworth Drive is deeply unsuitable as a route for HGVs, and ward councillors are calling for the County to change the decision and end the use of residential areas in Putnoe as a 'rat run' for lorries.

Commenting on the issue, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Putnoe Ward Sallyanne Smith said: "I am very concerned that despite their own figures showing that 100 HGVs a day use the road they won't put in a weight limit. We will continue to push the Council to change this decision. We will not give up fighting this on behalf of local residents.'

"This road has an upper school with over 1,000 pupils. Only recently a lot of money has been spent on safety measures outside the school but high volumes of lorry traffic just undermine those efforts. At the other end is Mowsbury park, which contains three children's play areas.'

"Lorries should not be allowed to cut through residential areas in Brickhill and Putnoe as a short cut, they should stick to the A road network."

In October, Bedfordshire County Council's Development Control Committee agreed to impose a weight limit on Putnoe Lane. It rejected a proposal to also establish a weight limit for Wentworth Drive, with the result that a steady stream of lorries continue to use the route. Lib Dem Ward Councillors argue that the road's width, its cycle lanes, build-outs, mini roundabouts, parking bays and the residential character of the surrounding area all serve to make a lorry ban essential for safety reasons.

Wentworth Drive passes Mark Rutherford Upper School, where safety measures have been put in place recently. These measures are severely undermined by the ongoing high volume of lorry traffic along the road, which also runs alongside Mowsbury Park and its children's play areas.