Agenda item

One of the many consequences of the Covid 19 pandemic is an increase in regular and frequent goods traffic through the villages of South Cambridgeshire. This traffic ranges from small delivery vans to large articulated lorries (HGV traffic).  The increase has come about at the same time as more of our residents are cycling and walking. It has also happened at a time when the government has put forward proposals to abolish the current weight restrictions.

A number of issues are linked to these developments. The increase in traffic, especially that of HGVs, has made the roads and pavements less safe for cyclists and pedestrians; and the air pollution, noise and speed has led to increased stress for residents, with consequent mental health problems. Further, the wider use of satnavs, which encourage drivers to take the shortest routes (often rural roads), is having a cumulative effect not only on the lives of residents but also on the state of our roads. Rural roads were not built for HGVs. Where weight restrictions are in place, they are little observed and the police have indicated they are not able to enforce.

We believe the way to tackle these issues is: 

a) to encourage local communities to report HGV infringement of current restrictions;

b) to encourage the police to take action against persistent offenders;

c) to encourage satnav companies to incorporate the County’s advisory freight routes into their systems;

d) to encourage firms to move towards hybrid or electric vehicles as ways of cutting emissions rather than relying on heavier, longer vehicles;

e) to encourage the installation of appropriate 20mph speed limits, along with physical highway restraints, in the areas worst affected;

f) to use planning conditions to prevent or mitigate the problems, as appropriate 

This Council requests that the Leader write to the Secretary of State for Transport to request that the government take fully into account the effects of HGV traffic on rural communities, as set out above, when considering changes to current regulations on weight.

This Council requests that the Leader also write to the County Council to request that it facilitates the use of measures set out above to make our village roads safer and improve the daily lives of our residents.

Following the agreement of the mover of the motion to an alternative to add the words “, and include supporting evidence of the increase referred to” to the penultimate paragraph, and to add the words “, along with supporting evidence of the increase referred to above” to the last paragraph of her motion,

Council AGREED the following motion:

One of the many consequences of the Covid 19 pandemic is an increase in regular and frequent goods traffic through the villages of South Cambridgeshire. This traffic ranges from small delivery vans to large articulated lorries (HGV traffic)).  The increase has come about at the same time as more of our residents are cycling and walking. It has also happened at a time when the government has put forward proposals to abolish the current weight restrictions.

A number of issues are linked to these developments. The increase in traffic, especially that of HGVs, has made the roads and pavements less safe for cyclists and pedestrians; and the air pollution, noise and speed has led to increased stress for residents, with consequent mental health problems. Further, the wider use of satnavs, which encourage drivers to take the shortest routes (often rural roads), is having a cumulative effect not only on the lives of residents but also on the state of our roads. Rural roads were not built for HGVs. Where weight restrictions are in place, they are little observed and the police have indicated they are not able to enforce.

We believe the way to tackle these issues is: 

a) to encourage local communities to report HGV infringement of current restrictions;

b) to encourage the police to take action against persistent offenders;

c) to encourage satnav companies to incorporate the County’s advisory freight routes into their systems;

d) to encourage firms to move towards hybrid or electric vehicles as ways of cutting emissions rather than relying on heavier, longer vehicles;

e) to encourage the installation of appropriate 20mph speed limits, along with physical highway restraints, in the areas worst affected;

f) to use planning conditions to prevent or mitigate the problems, as appropriate 

This Council requests that the Leader write to the Secretary of State for Transport to request that the government take fully into account the effects of HGV traffic on rural communities, as set out above, when considering changes to current regulations on weight, and include supporting evidence of the increase referred to.

This Council requests that the Leader also write to the County Council to request that it facilitates the use of measures set out above to make our village roads safer and improve the daily lives of our residents, along with supporting evidence of the increase referred to above.

Councillor Claire Daunton moved the following motion, as set out in the agenda:

“One of the many consequences of the Covid 19 pandemic is an increase in regular and frequent goods traffic through the villages of South Cambridgeshire. This traffic ranges from small delivery vans to large articulated lorries (HGV traffic)).  The increase has come about at the same time as more of our residents are cycling and walking. It has also happened at a time when the government has put forward proposals to abolish the current weight restrictions.

A number of issues are linked to these developments. The increase in traffic, especially that of HGVs, has made the roads and pavements less safe for cyclists and pedestrians; and the air pollution, noise and speed has led to increased stress for residents, with consequent mental health problems. Further, the wider use of satnavs, which encourage drivers to take the shortest routes (often rural roads), is having a cumulative effect not only on the lives of residents but also on the state of our roads. Rural roads were not built for HGVs. Where weight restrictions are in place, they are little observed and the police have indicated they are not able to enforce.

We believe the way to tackle these issues is: 

a) to encourage local communities to report HGV infringement of current restrictions;

b) to encourage the police to take action against persistent offenders;

c) to encourage satnav companies to incorporate the County’s advisory freight routes into their systems;

d) to encourage firms to move towards hybrid or electric vehicles as ways of cutting emissions rather than relying on heavier, longer vehicles;

e) to encourage the installation of appropriate 20mph speed limits, along with physical highway restraints, in the areas worst affected;

f) to use planning conditions to prevent or mitigate the problems, as appropriate 

This Council requests that the Leader write to the Secretary of State for Transport to request that the government take fully into account the effects of HGV traffic on rural communities, as set out above, when considering changes to current regulations on weight.

This Council requests that the Leader also write to the County Council to request that it facilitates the use of measures set out above to make our village roads safer and improve the daily lives of our residents.”

Councillor Eileen Wilson seconded the motion.

Councillor Graham Cone proposed an amendment to add the words “, and include supporting evidence of the increase referred to” to the penultimate paragraph, and to add the words “, along with supporting evidence of the increase referred to above” to the last paragraph of the motion.

Councillor Claire Daunton accepted the alteration to her motion.

Members debated the motion.

Councillor John Williams spoke in support of the motion. Trading Standards could enforce weight restriction orders, but environmental weight restrictions were difficult to enforce. This was due to the exemption for vehicles requiring legitimate access, for example, to deliver goods. Only the police could stop a vehicle, and it was difficult to restrict the movement of HGV’s as they were permitted to use any classification of road for access and deliveries. Legislation did not address whether the road leading to the delivery/pick up location was suitable. This motion was a first step but a very important one not only to protect the District’s rural roads but also to make them safer.

Councillor Deborah Roberts disagreed with the motion, as this was a matter for the county rather than district council. Deliveries via HGVs were needed to supply goods to shops. She dismissed support for this motion as “woke nonsense”.

Councillor Grenville Chamberlain expressed his concern that narrow lanes, used by cyclists as well as vehicles, lacked pavements and were dangerous. Development at Bourn Airfield should be postponed to address road safety. He hoped planning conditions would be used to mitigate problems and put road safety first.

Councillor Dr Richard Williams shared the concerns set out in the motion, but said the Council had recently approved two large planning applications. It should look to its own house. He asked whether there was a more practical action that could be taken, such as putting aside funds for parish councils to bid for highways initiatives.

In response to the Chair’s enquiry, Councillor Dr Richard Williams confirmed he was not proposing an amendment, as there would be complexities, but it was a suggestion to consider.

Councillor Bill Handley spoke in support of the motion, stating it was not so much about vans and lorries as about strategic routes. An example of how rural life could be adversely affected was his own ward of Willingham.

Councillor Aidan van de Weyer said rat-running was a blight and was unsafe, unpleasant and damaging to communities. There was a need to be more imaginative, such as considering speed cameras.

Councillor Eileen Wilson said the village and rural roads were not built to accommodate HGVs. The possibility of increased heavy traffic was concerning. The Council had to do its best to provide for walking and cycling. People worried about the impact of HGVs shaking their houses. There should be 20mph speed limits.

By affirmation, with Councillor Deborah Roberts abstaining, RESOLVED 

that:

One of the many consequences of the Covid 19 pandemic is an increase in regular and frequent goods traffic through the villages of South Cambridgeshire. This traffic ranges from small delivery vans to large articulated lorries (HGV traffic)).  The increase has come about at the same time as more of our residents are cycling and walking. It has also happened at a time when the government has put forward proposals to abolish the current weight restrictions.

A number of issues are linked to these developments. The increase in traffic, especially that of HGVs, has made the roads and pavements less safe for cyclists and pedestrians; and the air pollution, noise and speed has led to increased stress for residents, with consequent mental health problems. Further, the wider use of satnavs, which encourage drivers to take the shortest routes (often rural roads), is having a cumulative effect not only on the lives of residents but also on the state of our roads. Rural roads were not built for HGVs. Where weight restrictions are in place, they are little observed and the police have indicated they are not able to enforce.

We believe the way to tackle these issues is: 

a) to encourage local communities to report HGV infringement of current restrictions;

b) to encourage the police to take action against persistent offenders;

c) to encourage satnav companies to incorporate the County’s advisory freight routes into their systems;

d) to encourage firms to move towards hybrid or electric vehicles as ways of cutting emissions rather than relying on heavier, longer vehicles;

e) to encourage the installation of appropriate 20mph speed limits, along with physical highway restraints, in the areas worst affected;

f) to use planning conditions to prevent or mitigate the problems, as appropriate 

This Council requests that the Leader write to the Secretary of State for Transport to request that the government take fully into account the effects of HGV traffic on rural communities, as set out above, when considering changes to current regulations on weight, and include supporting evidence of the increase referred to.

This Council requests that the Leader also write to the County Council to request that it facilitates the use of measures set out above to make our village roads safer and improve the daily lives of our residents, along with supporting evidence of the increase referred to above.