Requesting a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) restriction on a public road

You may be able to request a restriction to stop large vehicles from using inappropriate roads or routes if they cause:

• danger to pedestrians and other road users
• damage to buildings, roads and bridges
• congestion on roads

This may include requesting advisory signage indicting that the route is ‘unsuitable for HGVs’ or, that a weight restriction is put in place. A weight restriction is enforceable and as such any breach should be reported to the police using their online process.

Weight restrictions often have exceptions in place for loading or local access meaning that some HGVs are permitted to use the road. It is worth noting that the blue ‘unsuitable for HGVs’ signage is advisory, not legally enforceable.

Any request for a restriction to stop large vehicles from using inappropriate roads and routes will most likely need to be investigated by the undertaking of a study, to identify if a restriction is the best approach to take and to provide some cost indications.

Before you make a request, you should speak to your local parish or town council.

A feasibility study is likely to be needed to establish if an intervention is necessary and what solution is most appropriate. Your parish or town council may be able to help create a proposal for a study to look at reducing the impact of HGVs on a public road.

A study looking at the options available and making recommendations as to the most appropriate approach to adopt would be carried out by Buckinghamshire Highways Commissioning.

Any feasibility study and any agreed intervention implementation may require some external funding.

A request for a feasibility study should include as much information as possible, including:

• A detailed description of the issues being sought to resolve, including frequencies, flows and any evidence of damage)
• When the problem started, and if there is an expected end date, if known. (often the case with construction traffic)
• Any photographic evidence available.

The parish or town council may also be able to reach out to HGV operators that may be using inappropriate roads to discuss alternative routes and the need for considerate driver behaviours.

Your parish or town council may be able to help:

• create a request for a feasibility study to investigate options to address the issues you have identified.
• They may also help build the case for taking actions based on the study recommendations.
• The parish or town council may be able to provide necessary funding for the feasibility study and for any agreed intervention implementation costs.
• The parish or town council will be able to make the local community board aware of any study and interventions.

The feasibility study will be carried out by Buckinghamshire Highways Commissioning who will look into a number of factors that may have created the problem, these will be useful to understand in finding the right approach to take. These may include:

• traffic flows and frequencies,
• road classifications,
• any evidence of damage,
• detrimental impact on communities and local businesses,
• injuries caused by collisions.
• availability of alternate routes,
• when the problem started and if there is an expected end date
• any available photographic evidence,
• the likely impact on traffic speeds.

Buckinghamshire Highways Commissioning will also check to make sure any proposal is in line with our freight strategy.

Any studies are likely to require local funding as may be the case for any intervention implementation taken forward.

On receipt of the feasibility study the parish or town council may determine if they would wish to take forward the recommended approach, considering the financial commitment necessary and other local priorities.

The parish council may also be able to assist by discussing with the local businesses and communities in order to reach voluntary agreements to minimise disruption. The parish or town council may also make sure the local community board is aware of any proposals.

The parish or town council will update you as the request progresses through the feasibility study and any subsequent intervention implementation.