BRADFORD on Avon’s Lorry Watch scheme has claimed its second prosecution success after a haulage company pleaded guilty to using a vehicle exceeding the town’s 18 tonne weight limit.


Parsons Distribution Ltd were given a £600 fine and ordered to pay £75 to Wiltshire Council during the hearing at North Wiltshire Magistrates’ Court in Chippenham on Tuesday, November 20 for using a 44 tonne vehicle to cross the town’s bridge.

The prosecution is part of the Bradford on Avon Lorry Watch campaign, launched in October 2011, which sees a team of around 40 volunteers take shifts patrolling the town bridge tallying vehicles which infringe the town’s weight limit.

Wiltshire Councillor Keith Humphries, cabinet member for public health and protection services, said: “This is another great result for the Lorry Watch scheme and I thank the volunteers for their efforts. Since the campaign started the numbers of lorries crossing the bridge illegally has dropped.”

Under the Lorry Watch system, Wiltshire Council trading standards officers work with the DVLA to issue formal warnings to offenders and If these are ignored companies can be prosecuted and be fined up to £1,000.

Lorry Watch co-ordinator Stephanie Ridout, said "We in Lorry Watch are hopeful that this second prosecution will send out a clear message to haulage firms that cross the bridge and contravene the weight limit will not be tolerated.”

Lorry Watch volunteers note key information of suspected oversized vehicles, including their registration number, country of origin, colour and company name, with the details given to Wiltshire Council trading standards officers.

Wiltshire Councillor Dick Tonge, cabinet member for highways and transport said: "We are grateful once again to the diligent volunteers who have helped us chart this problem on this bridge. This is an excellent example of a community working together and solving local issues”.

For more information about Bradford on Avon’s Lorry Watch scheme call 01225 864240.