Police plans to catch drivers breaking bridge rules
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A WARNING has been issued to drivers not to ignore signage and try their luck on a restricted bridge.
Police and councillors in Nairn are appealing to motorists who drive heavy vehicles to avoid the Whitebridge on the B9090 between Clephanton and Cawdor.
The bridge, which crosses the River Nairn, has an 18 tonne weight limit, which has been in place since April 2016.
Officers have received a number of complaints from the local community about large lorries and goods vehicles suspected of breaching the weight limit.
In effect, vehicles designed to transport loads where the maximum permissible weight of a tractor and trailer combination exceeds the 18 tonne restriction are not lawfully permitted to cross the Whitebridge, irrespective whether they are laden or not.
Local officers and officers from the Road Policing Unit are being deployed to enforce the weight restriction.
The minimum penalty is a fixed penalty notice for disobeying traffic signage - while any offence could also be reported to the Procurator Fiscal for consideration of court proceedings or referral of vehicle operators to the Traffic Commissioner’s office.
Nairn-based Sergeant Graeme Erskine said: "Vehicle operators and drivers of HGVs are asked to give due consideration to the weight restriction on the Whitebridge and help to maintain the structural integrity of the bridge and the safety of other road users.
"The Highland Council has identified a preferred diversion route for vehicles with a maximum gross weight exceeding the 18 tonne restriction, avoiding the Whitebridge via the A96, A939 and B9101 roads and we urge all drivers to stick to that route.
"We will take action against anyone found to be exceeding the weight limit. The few minutes potentially saved in journey time are not worth the risk of the potential penalties which could be imposed.
Councillor for Nairn and Cawdor, Liz MacDonald, agrees that something must be done to stop the drivers of heavy vehicles from chancing their luck.
"The police should be monitoring it because people know they should not be driving on it.," she said.
"There are signs to tell you but people are risking it and taking a chance and I think if a few people got charged then it would stop."
She revealed that the issue has been highlighted at community council meetings.
She added: "I am not sure what we would do without the bridge, it would cause a lot of problems if something was to happen to it.
"The fact that the police are taking action is certainly fine by me."
She hopes that it will remain a priority for Highland Council in the next lot of capital plans and that they will get a new bridge to remove vehicles from Whitebridge completely.
Cllr MacDonald added: "Meanwhile we have to protect the integrity of the bridge.
"The structure could be undermined completely and as a precious, historical bridge it is important that we protect it."
Anyone with information or concerns about use of the bridge can contact Police Scotland on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if they prefer to remain anonymous.
