Vice-Chairman William Emmett to outline concerns from the farming community on the impact of HGV traffic.

Vice-Chairman William Emmett raised the issue of some long-term permitted development works on land razing near the Drift Road causing continuous HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) traffic travelling through B-class roads to access the sites. He believed that this was caused by the thoroughfare restriction from Maidenhead to Bracknell and Ascot being the A330. Consequently, Vice-Chairman William Emmett explained, traffic, including lorries, would travel down the A308, then through either the Drift Road, the road through Oakey Green or the back of Holyport.

Vice-Chairman William Emmett also highlighted that the sites where the development was taking place were under the jurisdiction of the Environment Agency rather than the Borough and did not have limited timeframes. He suggested that the planning sites should be time limited, stating that 10 years open-ended access to the site had created significant problems. He added that he would like the Borough to look more carefully in where it supported permitted development which were not time limited as well as having an impact on local people and local roads.

Andrew Durrant explained that the Borough and Highways Authority would be unable to apply restrictions on roads and localities where vehicles required access to sites. However, if the Borough could demonstrate that there were more suitable routes to access the sites, then restrictions could be applied. In addition, the environmental impact of HGVs could be considered to then apply restrictions. Andrew Durrant also stated that the Borough was looking into moving traffic enforcement which would apply restrictions on moving traffic (including HGVs), but this mostly applied to bridges. Nevertheless, Andrew Durrant reiterated that there were potentially alternative routes and possibilities which could be pursued to relieve rural areas.

Andrew Durrant offered to forward Vice-Chairman William Emmett’s points to the Highways Team to look into, and then provide a written update to the Rural Forum.

Councillor Johnson stated that HGV traffic flow was a pertinent issue. He added that it would be illogical to pursue the enforcement of weight limits without a comprehensive review of the Borough’s current system of weight restricted roads and access as they directed HGV traffic to unsuitable rural roads. He believed in the longer term there had to be alternative solutions to address the issue and get HGV movements back onto arterial roads rather than B- and C-class roads.

Councillor Coppinger agreed with Councillor Johnson, stating that his ward in Holyport (as well as Councillor Johnson’s ward) were affected by heavy HGV traffic. He also agreed that a different solution was required with possibly a bypass in Holyport.

Nick Philp highlighted that some farms were reliant on HGV traffic to transport produce to and from their farms, stating that it was an issue that would not go away.

Vice-Chairman William Emmett stated that he was not seeking to restrict access to farmland for fellow farmers like Nick Philp. He said that he believed that the Borough would need to find road access off the M4 as there was development works in the local area.

The Forum noted the update.