LOCAL councillors have expressed their relief after Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) agreed to shelve plans that could have seen a large increase in lorries thundering through local villages. As part of the county council s new freight map drawn up l

LOCAL councillors have expressed their relief after Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) agreed to shelve plans that could have seen a large increase in lorries thundering through local villages.

As part of the county council's new 'freight map' drawn up last month, the A1123 road through Wilburton and Haddenham was scheduled to become a strategic route, enabling large haulage vehicles to use the road on a daily basis.

After vehement complaints by local councillors and South-East Cambridgeshire MP Jim Paice, however, the council agreed to downgrade the road to a local route, meaning that large goods vehicles will only be able to use the road if they are delivering in the area.

Bill Hunt, County Councillor for Haddenham welcomed the news: "This is great news but I really hope as many people as possible will explain to The Traffic Managers team why the A1123 has not, is not and will never be a suitable route for heavy goods vehicles on long distance routes."

District Councillor Gareth Wilson, said: "I was relieved to see that the county council had seen sense in deciding not to include the A1123 on the Strategic Freight Map, it would have been disastrous for the village."

Consultations on the freight map, which sets out preferred routes for haulage vehicles to use across the district, are continuing with anyone wishing to comment on the plans advised to visit the county council's website: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk.