Stop HGVs over 18 tonnes using Bigsweir Bridge

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) over the legal limit of 18 tonnes continue to use the A466, Monmouth-Chepstow road, on a daily basis, despite the weight restriction set on the Grade II listed Bigsweir Bridge. Not only are they breaking the weight restriction, but the HGVs are also:

1) Threatening the integrity and longevity of the iconic Bigsweir Bridge. The bridge had to undergo expensive repairs in 2010-11 and, even whilst repair works were underway, HGVs of 38 tonnes were caught crossing! The Safety Camera Partnership caught 20 HGV's over the legal limit crossing in one week. That number has certainly increased in the last 7 years. This beautiful bridge is a jewel in the crown of the Wye Valley AONB and must be protected.

2) Putting a road prone to subsidence under even greater pressure. The A466 has had sets of temporary traffic lights in place for a long time, and was fully closed for weeks over winter 2016/17 to correct subsidence. It is likely that this problem is being exacerbated by large HGVs.

3) Causing greater damage to the rural road surfaces. In turn this makes driving and, in particular cycling, hazardous.

3) Increasing noise pollution within a designated Protected Landscape and impacting on the health of local communities. Not only is the increased noise an annoyance, it can also be a significant short and long-term health hazard. The valley geography also means that road noise is often amplified and is heard some distance away, so that sense of tranquility that usually accompanies such a stunning landscape is hard to find.

4) HGVs are intimidating to vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians, and impact significantly on how people enjoy an area. Some pavements in Llandogo, for example, are just 50 cm wide and residents often find themselves just centimetres from the 40 tonne HGV's that thunder through - seriously frightening and dangerous, particularly for the elderly.

5) Impacting on the visitor experience. The Wye Valley AONB is a premier tourism destination, and the A466 has been heralded as one of 'Britain's Best Drives'. Many visitors travel along it with the expectation of peacefully enjoying the scenery. But the increase in heavy haulage, the increased noise, damaged road surfaces, temporary closures and traffic lights all serve to lower the visitor experience. This in turn will impact on future visitor numbers and the local tourism industry.

Lets work together to put a stop to large HGVs using the A466.