Rat running trucks over 7.5 tonnes banned

People living in a swathe of residential roads in East Putney will no longer have to suffer the noise and vibrations caused by heavy good vehicles thundering past their homes after councillors approved plans for a lorry ban in the area.

Vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes are to be banned from a dozen roads in the Lytton Grove area, following complaints from residents about lorry drivers using their streets as rat runs between West Hill and Putney Hill.

The roads affected are contained in a triangle bordered by Tibbet's Ride and Putney Hill to the east, West Hill to the west and Carlton Drive/Keswick Road to the north.

As well as Lytton Grove, the zone includes Putney Heath Lane, Rusholme Road, Kersfield Road, Holmbush Road and Dromore Road. Residents in these streets were consulted about the proposals earlier this year.

Lorries are now banned from entering the zone 24 hours a day seven days a week unless the driver is making a delivery. The ban also affects coaches, which will only be allowed to enter the area if they are picking up or dropping off passengers.

Transport spokesman Cllr Russell King said: "The streets in this part of East Putney are not suitable for large vehicles, but unfortunately they have become busier recently with drivers using them as a cut-through to avoid tailbacks on main roads. Residents of these quiet side streets should not have to put up with heavy lorries and coaches thundering past their front doors, which is why we have introduced this ban. Drivers who ignore it face a heavy fine."

October 3, 2012