Lorry driver fined for flouting HGV weight limit on ‘dangerous’ road
A lorry-driver has been fined in court for flouting vehicle-weight restrictions on a Huthwaite road where campaigners fear “somebody will be killed”.
Earlier this summer, angry residents and councillors launched a campaign against lorries rumbling “illegally and dangerously” along Chesterfield Road.
They called for action after alleging that many drivers were openly ignoring a new HGV weight limit of 7.5 tonnes, which had been imposed by Notts County Council for safety and environmental reasons.
Now, driver Steven Monks has been hit with a £110 fine at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court after he was was seen at the wheel of a 26-tonne lorry on the Huthwaite road on Friday March 13 this year.
Monks, 49, of Co-operative Avenue, Hucknall, pleaded guilty and was also ordered to pay £100 towards the prosecution costs of the case, which was brought by the county council’s trading standards department.
After the case, Coun Alice Grice (Lab), of of the council’s community safety committee, said: “HGV vechicles trundling along unsuitable roads is dangerous and can be intimidating for pedestrians and other drivers.
“This lorry was more than 18 tonnes over the allowed limit. I hope this case sends out a clear message to other drivers and companies that it could be an expensive mistake to breach weight conditions.”