Agenda item

To receive the report of the Executive Director Environment.

Members noted the report, particularly the concerns expressed around heavy goods traffic displaced to use Tower Bridge because of the scheme, and enforcement measures and vehicle weight restrictions on Tower Bridge (paragraph 11), whose declared maximum load is 18t, and the potential impact of that on the deterioration of the bridge structure. The meeting heard that discussions on the issue were ongoing with TfL and that more consistent enforcement was likely to improve the situation. A Member commented that risks related to any deterioration of the Bridge were potentially significant in terms of safety and traffic; that it was important to be ready to take immediate effective action to safeguard an important heritage asset if necessary; and that a contingency plan should be prepared. Another Member suggested that there was merit in diverting traffic towards more recently-built bridges including Southwark Bridge.

A Member asked whether heavy vehicles were free to drive around the City, and the meeting heard that there were restrictions on larger vehicles and that overweight vehicles were now being properly tracked.

A Member queried the governance arrangements around the matter, and the meeting heard that there were distinctions between the remits of the Bridge House Estates Board and those of the Sub Committee. 

Members noted that a further report will be brought to consider whether the City Corporation should object to and/or make other representations in respect of the ETO being either made permanent, remaining in its current form, or being modified, and agreed to receive an update on the issue at the next meeting (to be incorporated into the Committee’s outstanding actions List).