MP appalled by Bath city centre HGV ban
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By Chris Tindall PLANS TO ban HGVs from part of Bath city centre are going ahead despite an MP questioning the legality of closing a major A-road to heavy trafic.
Bath and North East Somerset (Banes) Council says the advice it has obtained from a barrister about preventing HGVs from using a stretch of the A36 attracts legal professional privilege and it does not have to supply anyone with that protected information.
The council says that the 18tonne weight restriction, due to begin in February, will improve air quality as well as “congestion and intimidation by trafic” .
However, the move has angered neighbouring authorities as well as haulage companies. They fear it will displace lorries onto other, unsuitable roads.
Local MP Dr Andrew Murrison has waded into the row, claiming many of his constituents will bear the brunt of the trafic unable to use the A36.
“I am appalled by Banes Council’s attitude to transparency and its arrogance in supposing it can spend public money on expensive barristers and then refuse to let the public see the opinion their council tax has paid for,” he says. A Banes spokesman says legal professional privilege should only be outweighed in exceptional circumstances, adding: “We are still consulting with selected stakeholders in line with what we agreed.”