VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help enforce lorry weight restrictions in outlying villages after residents became alarmed at increasing numbers of HGVs flouting the limits.

Councillors and residents say they routinely see truck drivers apparently unaware or unconcerned about the restrictions in Purton. Now they are looking to form a group to enforce them.

Wiltshire councillor Jacqui Lay said: “There are only three areas in Wiltshire that currently conduct a lorry watch, and people do not seem to understand that Trading Standards are the ones you have to report it to, because they have the powers to go to the DVLA and find out who the lorry belongs to.

“I am raising this now because recently I was alerted by a resident to a lorry trying to get around St Mary’s Church.

“That is a rather restrictive area and we have a raised graveyard, and lorries cannot navigate around the bends.

“Local people have asked for no access signs, because while there are weight restriction signs, if they are visiting the village for deliveries, lorries have the right to come in.

“Quite often these are new drivers who are visiting the area for the first time and are just following their satnav.

“We have quite an interesting situation, because the weight limits are not in force for the bridges; they are environmental limits because the layout of the village is not suitable for HGVs.

“It is very narrow in the middle of the village and it is very difficult for children during school runs as it is.”

She said Lorry Watch schemes in towns and villages such as Bradford on Avon worked well and had reduced the number of vehicles breaking the rules.

“The signs are there to stop through traffic from Wootton Bassett and Swindon, but it is the local people who might be driving skip lorries, who know the roads and where the signs are, who know how to get around it and not get caught,” Coun Lay said.

“There are a few people who regularly report them, but we need people out on the streets watching for them.

“If the village set aside a month in the year to purge this kind of behaviour it might help enforcement and change behaviours.”

One of the three other areas to enforce the Lorry Watch scheme is Bradford on Avon, where this week six companies and individuals were brought before the courts for contravening restrictions.

On Monday A J Maiden and Son, AFI Uplift Ltd, Gerry Jones Transport Services Ltd, Alan Jones of A and P Transport, Patricia Jones of A and P Transport, and SRCL Ltd were slapped with a total of £5,915 in fines and costs for breaching the weight limit on Bridge Street.

Ray Thomas, chairman of Purton Parish Council, said: “We would absolutely welcome volunteers, because there are so many people and companies who ignore the restrictions that it can be really distressing, especially at school times.

“In the middle of the village we have what we call the ‘pinch point’, with heavy lorries overhanging the pavement.

“ We have set up speed watches but we really need volunteers to take the time, date and company names.”

  • Interested? Call Purton Parish Council on 01793 771066.