M48's Severn Bridge weight limits are 'flouted daily.'
It is claimed that the inability to police the bridge's weight restrictions are leading to unfair competition, leaving local hauliers paying the price for 'toothless enforcement.'
M & G Plant and Tool Hire, based at Bulwark Road, expressed concerns about the inability of the authorities to impose the weight restrictions, which could allow some drivers to turn the weight restricted bridge into a 'free for all," according to one councillor.
A 7.5 tonne weight limit was imposed on the M48's ageing Severn Bridge in May, after engineers found structural weaknesses in the bridge, which is an essential link for local businesses.
Gayle Phelps, from one of local the haulage firms struggling with the long detours caused by the restrictions, expressed her frustration in a letter to Monmouthshire County Council.
Gayle wrote: 'My understanding, from watching the recording of the Public Services Scrutiny Committee meeting from 12th May, was that the National Highways representative stated Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras would be used for enforcement. However, recent news articles suggest this is not the case and that the idea is now only being explored.'
Avon and Somerset Police, who are responsible for policing the restrictions, have said they are working with partner agencies to introduce ANPR cameras. Meanwhile, National Highways recently assured hauliers that competition is not unfair because only a small number of operators are flouting the 7.5 tonne weight restriction.
Watch as a truck goes across the Severn Bridge, below
Last week, we published pictures of two HGVs on the Severn Bridge.
For the Chepstow haulier, the discrepancy is: 'Concerning, as the lack of enforcement is leading to blatant non-compliance. The unfairness of this is made incredibly clear to us daily. As our drivers take the required and costly detour over the Prince of Wales Bridge, they can physically look across and see other HGVs illegally crossing the M48's Severn Bridge.'
The inconsistency is a direct and constant visual reminder for local hauliers that: 'Businesses like ours, which are following the rules, are being penalised while others flout the ban without consequence. The apparent lack of practical collaboration between National Highways, SWTRA, Gwent Police, and Avon & Somerset Police makes proper enforcement seem unlikely and creates a deeply unfair competitive environment,' she wrote.
As a company they are asking what, if any, enforcement efforts are currently being made to ensure the weight limit is being followed and what the medium-term plan for HGVs is. National Highways believes medium term to be 12 – 18 months.
Gayle continued: 'I had hoped an ANPR system might eventually allow a managed route for local HGVs, but as it stands, there appears to be no future plan beyond the current blanket ban.'
Gayle's plea follows calls for clarity from Bulwark and Thornwell councillor, Armand Watts, who last week provided the South Wales Argus with pictures of two HGVs, seemingly flouting the Severn Bridge weight ban, which he claimed were the inevitable fruits of what he called 'toothless enforcement.'
Cllr Watts also supplied us with dashcam footage which, which you can see above, showing a DAF truck of indeterminate net weight crossing the bridge. The gross weight of the van is also unknown.
A National Highways spokesman insisted the number of breaches remains low and police are enforcing restrictions.
They also say they are not an enforcement agency, but they do work with enforcement to assist Operation Wolverine, standards authorities and the Traffic Commissioner, which combine to help prevent infringements of limits and ensure HGV drivers flouting the limits are challenged.
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