A major plan has been developed to manage lorry traffic across the county amid complaints over the impact of HGVs on small villages.

Bucks County Council’s (BCC) transport, environment and communities select committee praised the draft freight strategy as it was presented to members on Tuesday (May 29).

The project was launched a year ago after residents and parish councils raised concerns smaller country roads were unable to cope with the increasing amount of lorry traffic.

HGV hot-spots have been identified across the county, including Marlow Bridge, which was badly damage by a lorry in 2016, and The Chalfonts – where sat-navs take freight through Jordan and Seer Greens towards the A40.

If approved by cabinet, the new strategy will encourage lorry drivers to use the right routes at the right times ad aim to protect the environment while minimising pollution.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting, deputy cabinet member for transport, Paul Irwin, said: “Parish councils had grave concerns about the amount of freight that was moving through very small villages, single track roads for some of them.

“The last year has been really bad for the county. The average lorry I think is the equivalent to 20,000 cars, it’s a lot. It really does impact our roads and where they are going.

“We have the smallest road network in the country, but the busiest, which just shows the problems we have.”

Cllr Irwin added that around 85 per cent of people who responded to the public consultation were members of the public, and praised council officers for producing a “fantastic report”.

The strategy can be viewed online at https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/4510662/draft-freight-strategy.pdf and will be up for discussion by cabinet in June.