Conservatives representing rural communities in South Gloucestershire have successfully secured a weight limit along the A420 whilst major bridge works are carried out in Bath.

Having spoken out against the plans to redirect traffic along the A420 through the likes of Wick and Warmley, local Conservatives Cllrs Elizabeth Bromiley and Ben Stokes have now welcomed an announcement that a temporary 7.5-tonne weight limit would be introduced along the A420 while repairs take place to Cleveland Bridge, with the intention to redirect traffic to the motorway along the A4 Bath Road and the A4174 Ring Road. HGVs will still be allowed along the A420 if they are accessing local businesses along the route.

Cllrs Elizabeth Bromiley and Ben Stokes, who represent the Parkwall and Warmley Ward and Boyd Valley Ward respectively, said: “It is fantastic news that we have been able to secure this weight restriction along the A420, protecting our rural communities from unwanted and unsustainable traffic levels caused by these bridge works in Bath. We will continue to press for action to prevent any such inconsiderate and poorly thought through schemes from impacting local communities in South Gloucestershire.”

Plans backed by Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse to permanently redirect HGVs away from Bath’s Cleveland Bridge “redirect east-west traffic from the A4 and Bristol to the A420 north of the city”, are opposed by local Conservatives as it would flood their areas with unwanted HGV traffic.

The inconsiderate proposals had been put forward by the MP despite no attempt having been made to discuss the impact of the proposals across the border into South Gloucestershire and having been reminded by Transport Minister Rachel Maclean during a Parliamentary debate in November that funding had already been allocated to repair the bridge and that further restrictions would “have an impact on safety, the economy and air quality, with higher carbon emissions”.