Local radio reports on the HGVs through Audlem

Yesterday's Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Stoke carried an extensive report, with three interviews from Audlem residents, highlighting the concerns about the numbers of Heavy Goods Vehicles passing through the village. The report featured the results of last year's questionnaire which showed this was the major concern of local residents and went on to discuss the plans to press for 'de-priming' the road as a first step to reduce the numbers of long-distance trucks.

This story featured as the first item in news bulletins during the day – even ahead of the Middle East conflict! The news stories did say the plan was to reduce the A525 down to a 'B' road. This is not the case. The 'A' network consists of Primary routes, and the A525 is one of these, and ordinary A roads. The proposal is to persuade the Ministry of Transport to reduce the road's status to an ordinary A road in the hope that this will attract fewer HGVs, particularly those using satellite navigation, and prevent even heavier trucks, if approved in the future, coming through the village. The weight limits have been climbing steadily over the years and some EU countries now allow 50 tonne trucks. The Parish Plan team that examined these issues last year, and local MP Stephen O'Brien, have both advised that de-priming is the most realistic first step in tackling the issue. More details can be found in 'Articles' on the Homepage and you can vote on this issue in the current August Vote Poll.

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