Wiltshire Council is consulting until 2 November on a permanent 7.5-tonne weight restriction around Lyneham Banks and neighbouring rural roads.
The ban covers parts of the B4069, Hollow Way, Clack Hill, Bowds Lane, Trow Lane and Cheesley Hill. The aim is to protect cyclists and users of these narrow lanes and to reduce carriageway deterioration on roads once labelled Britain’s "wonkiest road".
Why a weight limit?
Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) over 7.5 tonnes are said to increase risks for cyclists and other users on these roads. Council documents cited by the BBC report that the volume of such vehicles contributes significantly to road wear.
Temporary limits were introduced during the repair of Lyneham Banks, which suffered a landslip in February 2022 and reopened in April 2025 after a £5 million rebuild.
What caused the landslip?
Councillors and contractors say HGVs were not the sole cause of the collapse. Local geology, historic ground weaknesses and increased groundwater flows, combined with loading from nearby development, led to the failure.
The contractor, Octavius, highlighted that these factors, not just HGV traffic, shaped the landslip. Fresh cracks after reopening have sparked further debate on heavy traffic, but engineers have assured the road is safe.
Local impact and views
Residents and local representatives report high volumes of HGVs. Stuart Bernard, chair of Lyneham and Bradenstoke Parish Council, noted a surge from 300 to 3,000 vehicles on Hollow Way during B4069 closure.
Councillor Allison Bucknell receives daily complaints about lorries on Lyneham Banks. A local resident pointed out these lanes were built for farm carts and horse-drawn carriages, underscoring their unsuitability for modern heavy vehicles.
Enforcement challenges
Enforcing weight limits is difficult since police require on-the-spot evidence of breaches. Councillors are exploring allowing people to submit photographic or video evidence to identify repeat offenders, a more practical approach than relying solely on police presence.
Existing restrictions and next steps
Since 2017, the B4069 has had an 18-tonne limit between Draycot Cerne and Lyneham, with access exceptions. The 7.5-tonne restrictions on Bowds Lane, Trow Lane and Cheesley Hill were temporary during reconstruction and exempted agricultural vehicles.
The consultation documents do not clarify which exemptions the permanent order would include or if it will replace the 2017 limit.
Comments on the proposals are open until 2 November. The papers can be viewed at Royal Wootton Bassett Library and County Hall in Trowbridge. Feedback can be emailed to TrafficOrderConsultations@wiltshire.gov.uk.
