Today the Cabinet Member for Environment (including Transport) gave the green light for a weight restriction to be implemented in the village of Minster Lovell along the Burford Road and Brize Norton Road.
The proposal which went out to consultation from 3rd April and closed on 4th May received support from local residents, Trading Standards and the local County Councillor along with the Parish Council. There were however some objections outlined by Brize Norton Parish Council who believed the restriction would increase HGVs through their village.
Liam Walker, the County Councillor for Hanborough and Minster Lovell addressed the meeting and gave his full support for the scheme. He said "I'm pleased to have worked with our team at Oxfordshire County Council on plans to implement a 7.5 tonne weight limit restriction for Minster Lovell."
"HGVs cutting through the village has been a problem for many years. For me this has been personal as in my younger days the Brize Norton Road was part of my paper round route. I remember the daily battle of having to avoid HGVs mounting the kerbs as they couldn't pass due to another HGV travelling on the opposite side of the road."
He added "It's good news the County Council are now in a position to take action with the support of funds secured from the Witney West development site. I'm pleased this will now go ahead and want to thank local residents for their support. I shall now await the finer details on when this will be implemented."
The County Council consulted on plans to implement a 7.5 tonne weight restriction along the Brize Norton Road from the A40 and on the Burford Road from Asthall Leigh roundabout to Downs Road in Witney. Local access would still be allowed for local businesses and deliveries to homes in the village. It is planned that the new weight restriction will stop HGVs cutting through Minster Lovell who are wanting to get to industrial estates in Witney.
At the meeting Cllr Walker made the case that having local access is "very important" for some larger vehicles and made reference for the need to allow access to the village shops, a skip hire company and a refuelling company that deliver aviation fuel to RAF Brize Norton.
The new restriction will therefore mean that larger vehicles would instead be required to use the A40 and make use of the new roundabout which is currently being constructed near Curbridge along the A40 near to the Witney West development site.
The Cabinet Member for Environment also gave the go ahead for a new 50mph speed limit to be implemented for a section of the A40 either side of the new roundabout. This proposal also included a new 40mph speed limit for a section on Downs Road and Curbridge Road.