Bath MP Don Foster has written to Bath & North East Somerset Council urging them to actively participate in a scheme that could dramatically reduce the number of HGVs driving through Bath. 

Don said that he had long argued that we should be working with sat nav companies to provide sensible and appropriate routes, not just the theoretical best route that they provide.  I think every resident in Bath would have seen an HGV driving along a street that is clearly too narrow for it, or having to perform an awkward u-turn which holds up traffic.  We could also suggest routes for through traffic which avoid the city centre. 

Somerset County Council has now taken a lead in working with sat nav companies to provide these practical solutions.  They have done this with the involvement of the South West Regional Freight Forum, of which Bath & North East Somerset are a member.  However, it turns out that a Council officer from our Council has not attended this group for some time. 

Don has written to the Council and urged them to work closely with Somerset County Council and catch-up on the information that we have missed out on.  Don has also asked that we take an active involvement in this pilot scheme from now on, as it could be of great benefit to the city.