Burford traffic weight limit is revoked

A temporary ban on vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes driving through parts of Burford will not be made permanent.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet today approved the decision to revoke the Burford experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) when its 18-month period expired on 5 February 2022.

At a meeting on 5 January, Councillor Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, revoked the ETRO. That decision was ‘called in’ for consideration by the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which voted for Cabinet to decide the matter.

The council will now develop a countywide freight strategy, including area-wide weight restrictions and close working with neighbouring authorities, as part of its Local Transport and Connectivity Plan.

The restrictions were brought in on 5 August 2020 to prevent goods vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes passing through Burford town on the following roads:

• The A361 (The Hill and High Street) from the A40 Burford roundabout to the A424/A361 Fulbrook mini-roundabout.
• Barns Lane from its junction at Burford roundabout.
• Tanners Lane from the A40.

The ETRO was proposed to promote road safety, reduce damage to roads and buildings, cut congestion, and improve the environment of the area.

However, it led to complaints that HGVs were being diverted to other towns and villages, causing similar problems elsewhere, which is why the council is now prioritising an area-wide freight strategy to bring in a countywide response to the issue.

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