Temporary weight limit could be put on reopened bridge (From York Press)

Temporary weight limit could be put on reopened bridge

8:16am Thursday 29th July 2010 in

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A TEMPORARY weight limit is set to be put in place across an East Yorkshire bridge which has just reopened after being damaged by a lorry.

Villagers in Sutton-on-Derwent launched the call for a weight restriction to be installed on the river crossing near their homes in the wake of the accident which led to the bridge being shut for six weeks.

They said the move was necessary to stave off the threat of further damage and closures, but residents in the neighbouring communities of Holme-on-Spalding Moor, Bubwith, Ellerton and Foggathorpe claimed it would lead to heavy goods vehicles travelling near their homes and schools instead. Now East Riding of Yorkshire Council has supported proposals for a temporary 7.5-tonne weight limit on the bridge, which carries the B1228 over the River Derwent.

The proposals will now be subject to approval from City of York Council. A structural assessment of the bridge will also be carried out, with local councillors and parish councils also being consulted to look at where large vehicles which would be prevented from using the bridge if such a limit was imposed would go instead.

A report which went before the authority’s environment and transport overview and scrutiny committee on the issue said it would be “unreasonable” to agree to the petition compiled by Sutton-on-Derwent residents because it could “result in problems for a community elsewhere”.

North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council also opposed introducing weight restrictions, but East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight said measures needed to be taken to protect the Grade II-listed bridge, which opened last weekend following the repair project.

Sutton Bridge has had to be closed twice this year following the lorry crash, leaving businesses in the village facing substantial drops in their takings and causing problems for motorists travelling between York, Sutton-on-Derwent, Elvington and Howden.