A LORRY driver has been fined more than £500 for ignoring a weight restriction in Hallen.

Martin Williams, of Redcatch Road, Lower Knowle, Bristol, was fined £530 by North Avon Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to breaching a weight restriction on Severn Road, Hallen.

Williams was seen driving an 18 tonne vehicle along Severn Road, February 18 this year by officers from Avon and Somerset Constabulary and South Gloucestershire Council's Trading Standards department.

Officers were conducting a routine weight restriction enforcement check at the request of local residents who had reported seeing numerous heavy goods vehicles ignoring the weight limit.

Severn Road has a weight restriction of 7.5 tonnes, which is enforced under Section 5 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

The restriction is for environmental reasons, such as reducing traffic, pollution and damage to the roads, and also safety reasons because Severn Road lacks the strength to hold heavy vehicles.

Mark Pullin, trading standards and licensing manager for South Gloucestershire Council, said: "Trading Standards routinely conduct weight restriction enforcement checks to ensure drivers do not breach the weight restrictions that the council has imposed on our roads and bridges.

"Drivers should be aware that South Gloucestershire Council is prepared to take court action against offenders and this case should be a deterrent to any driver considering breaching a weight restriction."

Williams who appeared before magistrates on Tuesday, June 2 was fined £115 for the offence, as well as being told to pay £400 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

South Gloucestershire Council is currently working with Network Rail on £1.2 million worth of improvements to rebuild Blaise Bridge on Hallen Road in Hallen.

Once complete the bridge should be able to support up to 40 tonnes of weight, which the authority hopes will protect the 7.5 tonnes restriction in Hallen by creating a more appropriate access for larger vehicles.