The impact of HGVs travelling through Sidford and Sidbury is to be assessed – with a weight restriction on lorries still possible.
Devon’s cabinet member for roads had asked officers to look into limitations on the A375 which runs through the two East Devon villages.
Both have been blighted by big vehicles using their narrow roads, and it is feared a new business park off Two Bridges Road in Sidford will make the situation worse.
Plans for the scheme had been turned down over highway safety concerns but were approved on appeal.
A government inspector ruled that the benefits of the multi-million-pound scheme outweighed the effects and inconvenience of an increase in HGV traffic in the area.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council (DCC) cabinet member for highways, has previously championed the idea of a 7.5-tonne weight restriction on the route through Sidbury to the traffic lights junction at Sidford Cross.
A meeting of the East Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) heard an update on the proposal on Friday.
Cllr Hughes said: “There has been a lot of concern in Sidbury and Sidford about the increase of HGVs using the road to the business park following the planning approval.
“We will keep an eye of things to see how it pans out and we will be monitoring the impact on traffic carefully and consider any interventions that may be needed on the highway, including a weight limit.”
If the idea became a reality, HGVs which fell foul of the restriction would have to take a signed diversion route away from the villages.
This would likely to be via the A30 to the Daisymount roundabout.
However, Ottery Valley representative Cllr Claire Wright said this would have implications on traffic flows in the B3180 in her ward.
Cllr Hughes added: “Whenever you introduce a weight limit, it will just move the HGVs elsewhere.”
The impact of HGVs will be monitored before any interventions aimed at road safety, if required, are put in place.
Vehicles heavier than 7.5 tonnes would still be able to use the A375 for necessary access and to carry out deliveries.
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