Traffic Management County Hall, Colliton Park Dorchester Dorset DT1 1 XJ
Mr P Shouler Ethelgiva St. Johns Hill SHAFTESBURY Dorset SP7 8lA	Telephone: 01305 or 01202 224269 Fax: 01305 or 01202 225186 Minicom: 01305 267933 Email: stephen.howard@dorsetcc.gov.uk DX: DX 8716 Dorchester Web site: www.dorsetcc.gov.uk
	Date: 28 September 2004 Your ref: My ref: MB/SH/CH
Dear Mr Shouler Prevailing Traffic Conditions - St Johns Hill, Shaftesbury Thank you for your letter received in the department on 22 September 2004, regarding the unsuitable use of St Johns Hill by Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). Mr Hine has also asked me to reply on his behalf. We too share your concern over the size and number of HGVs using St Johns Hill and Bimport to access Shaftesbury Town Centre or the road network beyond. However, without a suitable alternative route it is difficult for us to effect changes to the local highway network to prevent HGVs having to negotiate the narrow steep sections of St Johns Hill. It is, therefore, our aspiration to make practical improvements to adjacent roads in an attempt to provide a suitable alternative route to the A30 from the south and thus negate the need to use St Johns Hill. Plans to improve the route between the B3091 to the A30 for HGVs, via Cole's lane and Cherry Orchard lane, have been identified and costed and funding has been allocated for future financial years. As one might imagine, considerable remedial work will be necessary to make improvements to this route in order that HGVs can safely and easily negotiate these roads. When the aforementioned highway improvement works have been completed, signing to highlight the new route can then be installed and consideration given to the introduction of weight restrictions protecting St Johns Hill and Bimport. I hope this information proves to be of assistance and indicates our awareness of this very serious issue. However, if you require any further help with regard to this issue, please feel free to contact Steve Howard, the engineer responsible for the area, on 01305 224269. Yours sincerely Miles Butler Director of Environmental Services Director of Environmental Services Miles Butler INVESTOR IN PEOPLE