What we're doing and why
The A507 has been subject to requests to reduce HGV traffic from communities along the route for many years.
The A507 was not designed for modern HGVs and has some very constricted sections through Cottered where it is not considered practical to make changes due to historic buildings in close proximity to the road, combined with a narrow road width and pedestrian footpaths.
There are regular instances of large vehicles not being able to pass each other in these narrow sections without mounting the pedestrian footpaths, damaging the verges or striking historic buildings.
We're introducing a weight limit as a practical means of reducing the number of HGVs on the route to mitigate these risks by removing non-essential vehicles onto more suitable routes such as the A1(M), A602, A505 and A10.
We have installed additional signing on rural roads off the A507 following comments by local residents as an additional deterrent to discourage HGVs from using them as alternative routes to the A507.
HGV use will still be permitted for accessing businesses or properties along the restricted section of the A507.
Access information
HGVs will still be able to deliver goods and provide services to those living and working along the A507. This means you will likely still see some HGVs on the route, though we hope they will be fewer in number.
Access is permitted to:
- Anyone that lives or has a business along the A507, or adjoining lane, needing deliveries or collections.
- Farm vehicles, the A507 is a rural road and is the most suitable route whilst working in the area.
Main benefits
- Reduced HGV traffic through Baldock.
- HGV traffic will be re-routed to more suitable routes, reducing overall HGV traffic in Cottered and along the A507.
- The A507 will be a safer route for all road users, reducing conflict between HGVs and the risk of damage to the highway.
Enforcement
The police will manage any enforcement activity of this new weight restriction alongside their other daily demands. As in all cases, police attendance at incidents will be prioritised based on threat, harm and risk, to ensure that resources are available to respond to those most in need.
We and the police will continue to monitor the situation once the order comes into force.
Monitoring
HCC has already undertaken traffic counts on the route in previous years to establish a baseline. Further counts will be undertaken after the restriction has been in place for a number of months, to help to evaluate any changes.