MORE than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for lorries to be banned from Melksham High Street.

Campaigners are trying to force lorries over a certain weight to use the bypass rather than going through the town centre.

Town councillor Colin Goodhind, one of those behind the petition, said: "Heavy goods vehicles are damaging the town centre and driving away business. The weight restriction would improve the situation significantly."

The town council and people living and working in Melksham have been calling for a weight restriction for many years.

There is a signed route around the town centre but at the moment there is nothing to compel drivers to use it.

Lorries are allowed to park in the town centre while delivering bulky items, as long as they do not obstruct traffic, but councillors say many are misusing the rules by delivering small items or touting for business.

Wiltshire County Council is considering a 7.5-tonne weight restriction along the High Street between Church Street and Bank Street, but has refused to put this into place until a wider improvement scheme has moved forward.

The county council's proposals for widening footpaths, paving and streetscape work, are still at the planning stage.

In a letter to the town council Alan Feist, of the county council's planning and development department, said: "It is my view that a weight limit must form part of an integrated scheme, in combination with other measures, to provide an overall improvement in the town centre."

Cllr Goodhind and fellow protesters delivered the petition to the county council offices in County Way, Trowbridge, on Wednesday.