Town halls demand powers for drive to halt HGV ‘chaos’

NEW powers are needed to tackle lorry drivers who ignore weight restrictions, council leaders have said.

Lorries which exceed weight, height or width limits are causing “chaos” in villages and on roads, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).

There have been a number of incidents involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) getting stuck and causing disruption in recent months.

In Leeds and Durham, lorries were wedged under bridges, while an HGV in Liverpool caused an hour of delays as it struggled to turn around to avoid a low bridge.

All three roads were “clearly marked” as being unfit for the vehicles involved, the LGA said.

It wants local authorities to be able to issue fines to any lorry driver who ignores road restrictions. The money collected could be used to fix potholes.

The organisation’s transport spokesman Martin Tett said: “There has been a spate of accidents involving lorry drivers driving irresponsibly and bringing chaos to our communities.

“Councils are doing everything they can to help their residents, working with communities by organising lorry watch schemes.

“But they are trying to take action with one hand tied behind their back and need tougher powers.

“The vast majority of lorry drivers are reputable and drive responsibly. These powers would be targeted at the minority who do not follow the law.”

The chairman of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s transport committee is to step down as he takes on a new skills and training role for Leeds City Council.

Coun Keith Wakefield has chaired the committee since 2015 and has sat on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority since 2014.

The construction of three railway stations, the park-and-ride schemes at Elland Road and Temple Green, the Wakefield Eastern Relief Road and the Leeds Bradford Cycle Superhighway are among the projects which have been completed during his period as chairman.

He said: “I remain passionate about our region’s need for better transport and will continue to press the case for improvements.”