A new petition has been launched calling on Richmond Council to introduce and enforce a 7.5-tonne weight restriction on large vehicles using The Terrace and Barnes High Street to improve safety, protect historic buildings and reduce pollution.

However, TfL buses would be exempt from the proposed restriction.

The petition, started by Paul Hodson on behalf of the Barnes Community Association's Travel Barnes group, urges the council to listen to growing concerns about the "damaging and dangerous impact" of heavy goods vehicles using the route as a cut-through.

Hodson points to a historic precedent dating back to 1987, when an experimental ban on HGVs in The Terrace and Elm Bank Gardens was introduced by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

Following a review by the council's transportation sub-committee, the ban was made permanent after it was found to significantly reduce heavy vehicle movements, disturbance and pollution, improving the residential environment.

However, the petition claims that these protections were later quietly weakened without public consultation.

The original ban was altered to a 16.5-tonne weight limit in the early 1990s, before being increased again to 18 tonnes in 2013, with all previous orders revoked.

Hodson's petition says no reasons were given for these changes and are questioning why measures that delivered clear environmental and community benefits were scaled back.

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The issue gained renewed urgency following community engagement back in March 2025, after the council approved The Terrace as an area where measures would be introduced to improve the pedestrian experience.

Consultation led by the Travel Barnes group found widespread concern among residents, pedestrians and local businesses about a sharp increase in traffic volumes and the growing use of the road by large vehicles.

Key concerns include:

• Pedestrian and cyclist safety, with narrow road widths, limited crossings and unsafe conditions for cycling
• Structural damage to Grade II listed buildings caused by heavy and frequent traffic
• Congestion and driver behaviour, including aggressive driving and dangerous overtaking
• Public health and air quality, with pedestrians exposed to exhaust fumes, brake dust and tyre particles on narrow pavements
• Supporters argue that introducing a 7.5-tonne restriction would help restore the quieter, safer environment originally intended for the area.

The petition runs until 5 February 2026 and has already attracted 421 signatures. To find out more click here.

READ MORE: Richmond Council warns school places under pressure after Livingstone Academy axed.

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