16/02/11…Help to end HGV nightmare on country roads

LOCAL MP, John Howell, has welcomed Government plans to help end the nightmare of HGV lorries being directed along roads in the constituency deemed unsuitable.

John said: ?I have received many complaints from constituents about this issue. The residents of villages such as Aston Rowant, Kingston Blount and Chinnor have been campaigning relentlessly to stop HGV lorries trying to get to Thame along the B4009 after coming off at Junction 6 of the M40. This is a chance to make our views count and I urge everyone to participate in the consultation.

“Under new proposals, the power the Department for Transport only to set a road classification eg an A or B road, will be swept away. Local councils will be given the power to downgrade a road or to up-grade one if they think it makes better sense for that road to be used as a primary route. Councils will no longer have to get approval from the Department for Transport.”

John added: ?Local people are best-placed to decide the classification of local roads. This could help councils beat the pockets of congestion we all know exist. However, it also needs action to be taken to make sure that Sat-Navs reflect this and do not send lorries down routes that are not suitable. I am glad, therefore, that the consultation on these proposals is asking for ideas to solve this problem. I understand major Sat-Nav producers are keen to solve this problem as well, but, at present it seems to take too long for Sat-Navs to change when a member of the public reports a route as unsuitable.?

Local authorities will be required to send a formal record of any changes to its road network to DfT but reporting will be streamlined, with the current eight forms replaced with one.

The consultation can be found at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/2011-02/ and will continue until May.

SOURCE: Press release 03/02/11

PHOTI: Copyright APEX – This driver got wedged in a coutry lane when he followed the instructions given by his SatNav. Full story – Mail On Line: http://tiny.cc/btyup