Four HGV drivers prosecuted for breaching weight restrictions in Shrewsbury
Four lorry drivers have been prosecuted for in cases brought against them by Shropshire Council.
The drivers all pleaded guilty to driving their HGVs down either London Road or Wenlock Road - both of which have a 7.5 tonne weight restriction in place.
The Shrewsbury Magistrates court sentenced the drivers to fines ranging from £80 to £175 and ordered each driver to pay costs of £130 to Shropshire Council in respect of the offence.
Frances Darling, public protection service manager for safer and stronger communities said:
“Public protection officers carry out targeted monitoring of our weight restricted roads and bridges on an on-going basis. The HGVs in these cases were driven down weight restricted roads on a number of separate occasions. Follow up enquiries determined that the drivers of the vehicles had no genuine reason for travelling along the roads in question and had not taken any steps to prevent the breaches. We were left with no option but to institute legal proceedings in each case.
“Weight restrictions are in place on a wide range of roads and bridges across Shropshire. The reasons for the restrictions are varied. They include protecting the roads, bridges and surrounding buildings from a structural perspective, protecting the local community by, for example, ensuring pedestrians remain safe around schools and colleges, reducing the detrimental effects on health that may arise from excessive exhaust fumes and also protecting the overall environment. I strongly urge HGV drivers to pay particular attention to the weight restriction signs and to follow the advice given by public protection in order to avoid breaching the orders that exist across Shropshire and the rest of the country.”
