700 lorries fined for using ‘banned’ roads in Andover

More than 700 lorries have been fined £500 each after using ‘banned’ roads in Andover to reach the Co-Op’s distribution centre.
According to the local council £371,000 is currently being collected by firms whose vehicles used roads with restrictions on, such as the A342, A343 and A3057, to get on to the Andover Business Park.

The figures relate to the period October 2011 to September 2012 and a spokeswoman adds that the period October 2012 and December 2012 is in the process of being calculated.

However, the Freight Transport Association says it is ‘staggered’ at the huge amounts and questions the regime adopted by the council:
‘Issuing fines to this degree is ridiculous,’ says FTA head of policy Natalie Chapman. ‘The fines issued go back to Spring of last year. If the purpose was to make sure lorries were taking correct routes you need to identify where they are deviating and take swift action. If this is managing traffic in that area there should be a much better system.’

A spokesman for the Co-Op says the site attracts up to 600 vehicle movements a day, adding: ‘Unfortunately, some routes which are off limits to HGVs most of the time have been used inappropriately, resulting in the penalty notices.’