PROPOSALS to ban HGVs from trundling through Barnard Castle could affect residents almost 20 miles away.
That was the initial view from members of Etherley Parish Council, whose area covers Bildershaw bank and the busy junction where the A68 meets the Bishop Auckland bypass.
Among ideas being considered by campaigners at the Barnard Castle HGV Action Group is a permit scheme which would ban lorries that have no business in the town. Rather than coming through Barney to get to the Bishop Auckland area, the action group wants to see HGVs travelling eastbound on the A66 continue along to Scotch Corner, head north on the Al and then onto the A68 at Darlington.
This route would bring HGVs down Bildershaw bank to the Bishop Auckland bypass.
Keen not simply to move the HGV problem from one place to another, members of the HGV Action Group have written to parish councils which could be affected a lorry ban in Barney, asking for views.
At this month’s Etherley Parish Council meeting, chairwoman Cllr Janet Balmer said such a ban could add more traffic to an already busy road.
“At peak times, it is a constant flow of traffic down the bank,” she said.
Cllr Christine Gibson-Bell said channelling HGVs down the bank may be the “least worst solution” .
Councillors agreed to defer further discussion until their March meeting when a full debate will be held, after which a response will be made to the Barnard castle HGV Action Group.
