ePetition details
Petition to Implement a Weight Restriction on Bury Lane, West Ilsley
On Friday 7 February 2025, a coach fire and two car crashes led
to the closure of the A34 between Chieveley and Chilton. As a
result, hundreds of vehicles - including numerous HGVs - were
diverted through West Ilsley, causing hours of gridlock and
significant disruption. The junction from Bury Lane to Main Street
became impassable for lorries attempting to turn, resulting
in:
• Damage to roadside verges and pavements
• Destruction of a telephone wire
• Safety risks to pedestrians and residents
• A resident nearly being struck by a lorry mounting the
kerb
• Villagers forced to direct traffic themselves, putting their
own safety at risk due to the absence of any official traffic
management
This incident is not isolated. West Ilsley is repeatedly used as a diversion route during A34 closures, despite the village roads being unsuitable for heavy goods traffic. The claim by traffic officers that Bury Lane has “a generous and continuous width that allows two large vehicles to pass with ease” is strongly disputed by residents and local councillors. The reality is that Bury Lane is a narrow rural road, ill-equipped to handle such volumes and vehicle types.
We therefore urge West Berkshire Council to take immediate steps
to assess and introduce an appropriate weight limit on Bury Lane,
supported by signage and enforcement, to protect the village from
further damage, disruption, and risk to life.
This ePetition ran from 01/10/2025 to 12/11/2025 and has now finished.
70 people signed this ePetition.