Calls for HGV ban in town centre to be discussed

Calls to stop large vehicles from using a weight-limited road in an East Sussex town are to be discussed.

On Monday, Claire Dowling, East Sussex County Council's lead member for transport, is to consider a petition calling for a ban on Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and other large vehicles from travelling through Bexhill's High Street.

While the road has a 7.5-tonne weight limit, petitioners said it was routinely breached, with large vehicles causing damage to historic listed buildings.

In a report, council officers said "any potential scheme is unlikely to take place until the end of the year".

Despite recommending a scheme should be "fully assessed" by council, the officers' report also sets out several challenges and limitations which could prevent it moving ahead.

These include a need to ensure emergency service vehicles and "legitimate" HGV deliveries are able to access the route, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A petition, signed by more than 500 people, sets out measures for the council to consider, including diverting bus routes and changing the layout of the road so wide vehicles are unable to use it.

Lead petitioner Sandra Bandirali said: "The immediate enforcement of the weight limit is key to the buildings' protection and it is of great concern that this regulation is currently not being enforced.

"Preserving the buildings on the High Street is something we have to do now, or the incredible images we see of a high street that has hardly changed in hundreds of years won't be there anymore."

Council officers said in their report that any redirection of bus routes would be undesirable as it "would have a substantial impact on passengers gaining access to Bexhill Hospital".

The report also notes how concerns around enforcement of the weight limit have been passed on to Sussex Police.

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