FTA slams Kent Lorry
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Watch scheme results
THE FREIGHT TRANSPORT Association (FTA) has cast doubt on data gathered by Lorry Watch volunteers in Kent after the council admitted more than half of the LGVs reported were not breaking a weight restriction.
The pilot scheme in the villages of Leeds and Langley was launched in November 2012 and sought to prevent lorries over 18 tonnes GVW from using the B2163 Leeds Road.
Kent Council said that by January this year, 186 vehicle reports had been received from local volunteers, who had been briefed about vehicle sizes. However, 54% (100) were two-axle vehicles and were not breaching the limit. A mid-trial report also revealed that 26% (48) were foreign-registered
lorries, but the council said the police were unable to contact their owners.
"More than half of those vehicles reported weren't breaking the weight restriction," the report said. "Although the volunteers have been provided with printed material to identify the size and weights of vehicles, their perception is that these vehicles are too large for the road."
Natalie Chapman, FTA head of policy for the South East, said: "Some residents are under the false impression that by putting in a Lorry Watch scheme they won't see any more lorries, and that's not the case. It comes down to the quality of the data and those gathering this data don't understand the difference between lorry sizes."