AN EXPERIMENT to gather public opinion on vehicle restrictions for a busy residential road have been criticised for not going far enough.

For a six-month period, lorries weighing more than 7.5 tonnes will be banned from using the south section of Queen Elizabeth Drive in Taw Hill.

It follows complaints from residents that the road is not suitable for large vehicles, which regularly use it to deliver to the Taw Hill Village Centre.

It is hoped the traffic order will stop lorries from using the Thamesdown Drive junction near the Tawny Owl Pub, but instead use the junction leading on to the north section of Queen Elizabeth Drive.

However, some have criticised the trial as it still allows lorries to use the road for access purposes – and still allows buses on the route.

Queen Elizabeth Drive resident David Parkinson, 50, said: “In all honesty it is a waste of time and money.

“The restriction allows lorries through for access meaning they can still use it to deliver to the village centre, which is the only reason they have for using it.

“On top of this is the failure to prevent buses using the road, for which it is clearly not suitable.”

When permission for the Queen Elizabeth Drive was initially given it was designated a distribution route, meaning it could be used as a bus route. Since then reports have shown the road and roundabouts do not meet government standards for a bus route.

David said: “The problem is as bad as it has ever been. The road is simply not wide enough for two buses to pass each other, one has to mount the grass verge.

“Prior to 2011 there was a perfectly good route from Oakhurst that stopped at the Tawny Owl pub and we have pointed out another route which would see buses coming into the village via the north section and go out the same way.

“It would mean residents still would not have that far to walk to get a bus.”

Council Leader David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) said he believes while the restriction may take some time to come into effect, it will work.

He said: “As councillors we had a lot of requests from residents and we responded. We need to ensure this information is put into GPS devices, which could take some time.

“I am aware some residents do not want buses to run along Queen Elizabeth Drive but ultimately Thamesdown Transport want to use the route and there is clearly demand as the buses are used. There are some points where the buses can not pass without going on to the verge. We have said we will take action to try to solve the problem.

The council is asking residents for feedback on the trial at highwaysrecords@swindon.gov.uk, with the email entitled Queen Elizabeth Drive TRO