Lorry driver caught breaking weight limit driving over historic bridge
A LORRY driver was caught breaking the weight limit on an ancient causeway in Derbyshire and another motorist was using an ipad while driving over the structure.
The trucker was heading over Swarkestone Bridge on Tuesday and was dealt with by the police for disregarding the limit, which is in place along the length the historic structure.
They were caught as part of a traffic operation that were carried out in Swarkestone and Swadlincote by the police safer neighbourhood teams covering the two areas.
Other drivers also found themselves with tickets after being caught while driving while using mobile phones – one was even using an ipad while they were behind the wheel.
A spokesman for the Melbourne and Mercia Police Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “Officers have been out completing traffic operations in Swarkestone and Swadlincote after concerns raised by our community.
“We were also joined by a number of traffic officers to assist in the operation.
“A lorry driver was dealt with for driving over Swarkestone Bridge, disregarding the weight limit which is in place.
“Multiple tickets were issued for drivers driving whilst on a mobile phone and even one using their ipad whilst driving.
“As a safer neighbourhood team our role is to respond to concerns from the community.
“Our response teams at Swadlincote deal with 999 emergency calls, and other matters such as thefts and burglaries.”
Derbyshire County Council has previously announced that it had hoped to build a new river crossing to bypass Swarkestone Bridge that currently serves as one of the area’s busiest routes.
It had said that it would have to get creative with how it could fund the replacement which could cost many millions of pounds.
However, these plans have now stalled as efforts to fund the project have ‘not so far been successful’.
The route is also known to be plagued by overweight lorries crossing it on a regular basis, despite the 7.5-tonne weight restriction.
More than 15,000 vehicles cross the Grade I-listed causeway every day.
Swarkestone Causeway dates back to the 13th century and is commonly referred to as Swarkestone Bridge.
CALLOUS thieves have smashed their way into a compound to swipe tools worth thousands from a South Derbyshire volunteer group.
The tools, worth £3,000, were stolen from a locked container in a locked compound in Rosliston Forestry Centre, in Burton Road.
It took the volunteer conservation group three years to raise the funds to buy the tools.
The padlock used to secure the container was cut off by the raiders, then replaced to make it look like nothing had happened.
The incident happened at the end of January but the information has just been released by the police.
Officers from Swadlincote police safer neighbourhood team are investigating.
A spokesman said: “Overnight between January 21 and 22, approximately £3,000 of tools all marked with orange hi-vis paint blobs have been stolen from a volunteer conservation group in Rosliston.
“The group had fund-raised through grant applications and donations for the tools over a three-year period.
“They were stolen from a locked container in a locked compound which was then concealed by replacing and jamming the padlock after it had been cut off.
“A wheelbarrow was also stolen from this location to commit another similar incident nearby.
“If you have tools stored in a shed or container please ensure they are secured and any suspicious activity reported to us.
“If you are offered any tools with orange hi-vis marks on them or have any information that would help locate any of the stolen tools please contact us by calling Derbyshire police on 101 quoting 21*77714.”
Derbyshire Police have been asked for the exact location of the compound.