Great Western Coffee Shop

A three ton weight limit has recently been applied to the bridge over the station throat at Westbury, with buses being diverted around via the narrow "Slag Lane", which has had a "buses only" section put into it to reduce other traffic.   I understand that the weight limit has been applied because of the very poor condition of the bridge.

The question was asked the other day "how old is the bridge ... are there any others of the same age on the line" and as it was asked by a Weesexan, I've posted in "Heart of Wessex" although Portsmouth - Cardiff, TransWilts and some London to West of England service pass underneath.

The answer to the first part may be in given by the maker's plate on the bridge:

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/bridgeplate.jpg)

I understand that the police are concerned at people ignoring the limit - especially heavy lorries - as there's a very real danger from 40 tonners going over there. They have been stopping them and issuing tickets, but the fine is quite a small one (30 pounds) and it's no points on your license.  It is, of course, more serious to drive a car through the bus only section - that will cost you sixty quid and three points.

Going off at a slight tangent - the maker's plate on that bridge looked familiar to me!

On the footbridge at Nailsea & Backwell:

(http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea21.jpg)

I have seen a considerable number of heavy lorries crossing this bridge - particularly foreign registered ones - it just isn't worth the police's time and effort pursuing these guys. The only way to stop them is to put large "gates" either side of the bridge so that nothing larger than a Transit can get through.

But just think how many "targets" the police are meeting by ticketing all those UK based car drivers taking the bus route !!!!!

Is it perhaps still shown as a valid route on their satnavs?  ::)

I've heard the police address Westbury Town Council on this issue.  They are putting much more emphasis on policing the bridge than the the bus gate and are frustratingly aware of the non-UK issue and their ineffectiveness at times - but there's a potential serious accident there.  I don't think they're actually using the bus gate to meet any targets.


And I note the place is in far better condition.   Is there a weight limit for pedestrians on that footbridge?  ;)

There were problems in Bath a few years ago when they were stabilising the Coombe Down mines.  They had a weight limit on the roads above to limit it to cars and vans only but it was ignored by lorries.  So they set up a width limiting "gate" and guess what happened, a Polish registered lorry thought he could squeeze through, he managed too and carried on down the road for two miles before he realised that the squeeze had ripped a hole in his fuel tank and he had been leaking diesel all over two miles of road.   The best option is to have humans policing the limit.