The MP for Chippenham is “furious” over calls by Bath MPs to ban all HGV traffic from the Roman city.

With the impending closure of the Cleveland Bridge and the introduction of the Bath Clean Air Zone, Michelle Donelan MP has expressed grave concerns over the knock-on effects of the schemes on Wiltshire.

The MP said she is working with Bath and Northeast Somerset and other Wiltshire MPs to find a solution to traffic problems in Bath that do not “simply move the problem to Wiltshire”.

Ms Donelan has signed up to attend Bath MP Wera Hobhouse’s public meeting on the issue.

“I have received lots of correspondence from my constituents who have been severely impacted by the current temporary restrictions on Cleveland Bridge coupled with the introduction of the Bath Clean Air Zone,” she said.

“Villages in my constituency such as Atworth, Shaw, Winsley and Limpley Stoke (to name just a few) have experienced a severe knock-on effect with large lorries rumbling through the village at all hours of the day and night, the town of Bradford on Avon with its narrow streets and beautiful historic architecture has also experienced much higher volumes of traffic as vehicles look for alternative routes to and from the M4.

“There needs to be a “heads together” solution for this issue.

“One that helps Bath and constituencies in Wiltshire to deal with air quality and congestion. I look forward to this public meeting to put forward the views of neighbouring settlements”.

This comes as the BBC reports that it is “increasingly unlikely” that repair works on the Cleveland Bridge will start at the end of June as one of the workers tests positive for Covid-19.

On Twitter, Wera Hobhouse MP says she has written to Wiltshire MPs Michelle Donelan, Andrew Murrison and James Gray to arrange a meeting so they can see the bridge for themselves.

 

Highways England, which operates motorways and A-roads, has recently published a document for planning the future of Wiltshire's road network.

A spokesman for Michelle Donelan’s office added: “This starts the work to build the evidence base that will support government’s decisions on future Strategic Road Network investment priorities for the next funding period, due to commence in 2025.”

It is hoped that this work will give an opportunity to push a “holistic solution” to the traffic issues in Bath and into Wiltshire.

Work on the £3.8m project to renovate the Grade II listed structure began at the start of May with the bridge due to close for scaffolding works from Monday, June 28.

Cabinet member for transport at B&NES council, Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport said: “We apologise for the disruption this closure is likely to cause, however we don’t have any alternative. It is essential repair work and much of it has to be done under a road closure."