Village unlikely to get lorry ban
THE leader of Rutland County Council has said it is unlikely lorries will be banned from the A6003 between Uppingham and Caldecott in the near future.
Roger Begy (Con) is also a parish councillor in Greetham where villagers face similar problems to those in Caldecott with lorries negotiating narrow stretches of road.
Lorries mount the pavement and in some cases have damaged houses in Caldecott.
Coun Begy said: "As a parish councillor, we have tried every avenue to seek alternative routes for the heavy and large lorries.
"As a county councillor, I have tried for many years to find solutions for both Caldecott and Greetham."
In 2006 the East Midlands Regional Assembly approved a 3.8m bypass for Caldecott on Rutland County Council's recommendation.
Last year the funding was cut as all available cash was diverted to the A46 which is being widened between Nottingham and Leicester.
Rutland County Council has been consulting with Leicestershire County Council, Corby Borough Council and Northamptonshire County Council about the weight restriction because the A6003 between Uppingham and Corby runs through all three counties.
Coun Begy said: "I believe that at the meeting of all the local authorities involved in the route, it was confirmed that additional mileage added to the routes would mean that the Department for Transport would not support a ban."
Campaigners in Caldecott are hoping a 7.5 ton restriction will be imposed on the road. Lorries would be rerouted about 15 miles along the A1, A47 and A43.
Rutland County Council revealed last week that it was discussing a weight restriction but would only support the idea if the police agreed to enforce it.
Coun Begy said: "It's not that the police cannot enforce a ban if one was put in place.
"There are plenty of roads in Rutland that already have weight restrictions on them and they are policed regularly.
"What it comes down to is cost and by adding an extra 15 miles onto a journey you are increasing mileage and pollution costs and the Department for Transport will not support it."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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