Three more firms prosecuted after Bradford lorry watch action (From This Is Wiltshire)

Three more firms have been fined for exceeding Bradford on Avon’s 18-tonne weight limit.

The town’s Lorry Watch scheme has reported that Garn Transport was fined £500, plus £70 costs, Bately’s fined £250, with £75 costs, and Laureston Transport Services fined £250, with £75 costs. Each also had to pay a victim surcharge of £15.

Stephanie Ridout, the Lorry Watch co-ordinator, said: “We have had more volunteers and we are still on duty all day every day.

“The reduction in heavy lorries coming through the town is very noticeable to local people and Bradford residents are so supportive of us.”

The latest actions brings the total to nine prosecutions for Lorry Watch since its launch in October 2011. The scheme has about 40 volunteers taking shifts on the town bridge, tallying vehicles which infringe the limit.

At the end of this month, the first year’s figures will be compared with the latest ones, to assess the impact of the scheme.