HGV town limits removed after knock-on problems

Experimental limits placed on HGVs in one town has "only moved the problem to other communities", according to one council.

Since May 2023, Suffolk County Council placed limits on lorries entering Eye town centre.

However, data has now shown that HGV traffic has significantly increased in other areas like Debenham, Hoxne and Stradbroke.

Richard Smith, cabinet member for economic development, skills and transport strategy and waste, said the issue was "not acceptable".

"I understand that this is an important and upsetting issue for many people in Eye, but solving this type of problem in a rural county with few good quality routes is far from easy," he added.

Mr Smith said the council would looks at other ways to mitigate the heavy traffic in the area.

This could include engineering measures and different traffic restrictions.

According to the council, support for the scheme while it was ongoing was not universal.

It said 39% of respondents during a public consultation felt it had been positive while 18% said it had been negative.

"Outside the restricted area the feedback was overwhelmingly negative, with 73% saying it had made the situation in their community worse," a spokesperson for the council added.

Concerns were raised around road safety, the impact on pedestrians and the narrowness of alternative routes taken by HGVs.

The town centre restrictions have been lifted for the next few weeks and will revert HGV routing in Eye to the previous restriction that covers the north of the town only.

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