LORRIES continue to break the law and damage a Grade I Listed bridge.

That's the message of the Milford Preservation Group, who held a Traffic Enforcement Day on Friday (August 27).

Camped on Milford Mill Road and fully supported by Wiltshire Police and Salisbury city councillors Charles McGrath and Jo King, the group spent around four hours monitoring traffic coming over the bridge and into Laverstock.

The MPG would like to see either speed bumps or build-outs at the very least in order to prevent lorries that weigh more than 7.5 tonnes from using the medieval bridge.

Salisbury Journal:

At a meeting in October last year, county officials vowed to work with the MPG to resolve long-standing traffic problems on Milford Mill Road.

The "crucial" meeting took place by the bridge, and included MP for Salisbury John Glen, Councillor Bridget Wayman (Wiltshire Council cabinet member for highways at the time), Parvis Khansari, Director of Highways, and Wiltshire Councillors Sven Hocking and Ian McLennan.

The Chairmen of Clarendon and Laverstock and Ford Parish Councils were also present.

David Lovibond from the MPG said: "Traffic volumes continue to increase. Despite the efforts of the MAPG’s Lorry Watch, HGVs continue to break the law and use our streets and damage the Grade 1 Listed bridge.

"Pedestrians using Milford Mill Road bridge are in constant danger due to the sheer volume and speed of traffic."

Salisbury Journal: Traffic on Milford Mill Road

'Unlikely to achieve significant reduction'

In an email seen by the Journal, Paul Shaddock, a Wiltshire Council Engineer (Traffic Engineering) for Salisbury Transportation Team, said: "I think it is fair to say that the council has sought to introduce (or facilitate the introduction of) measures to try and deter vehicles from using the Milford Mill Road area instead of the A36."

Mr Shaddock also said that proposals for the provision of improved advanced warning of the weight limit in the Milford Mill Road area are being drawn up to try and further deter HGVs.

Mr Shaddock added: "Without wishing to be overly pessimistic the introduction of further physical traffic calming features into Milford Mill Road is unlikely to achieve any significant reduction in the volume of traffic using the road.

"The journey time delay that any further physical traffic calming features would bring about is unlikely to be enough to convince motorists to use the A36 over Milford Mill Road, particularly at the times of day when traffic flow along the A36 is at its highest."

Mr Lovibond said this position is "ridiculous", and added: "You propose to do nothing. Nothing. Utterly shameful and entirely unacceptable."

Paul Shaddock and Wiltshire Council have been contacted for further comment.

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