A FURIOUS row has broken out over a decision to ban heavy lorries in Bolton town centre.

Tory Cllr John Walsh has written a letter to council chief executive Bernard Knight complaining about how the decision was taken to impose a 17-tonnes weight restriction on Bradshawgate.

The weight limit has been brought in because a bridge is too weak to take heavy lorries.

In March, the BEN revealed it was one of three town centre bridges the council had safety worries about - the other two were at Great Moor Street and Newport Street.

Cllr Walsh said at a Bolton Council meeting that "professional advice" which suggested a seven-tonnes limit was "disregarded."

Councillors were given four options at that meeting but one report quoted the opinion of an engineer who said that the weight limit should be only 7.5 tonnes except for buses because the road could "sustain" this weight but not 17 tonnes.

However, councillors were recommended in conclusion by a senior officer to accept a 17-tonnes limit after a report said it would not have "a detrimental effect" on the structure of the bridge.

But Cllr Walsh hit out at a Bolton Council meeting: "Where there is a matter of public safety, we should be taking the prudent course."

Cllr Guy Harkin, the Cabinet member responsible for the environment, hit back: "We were recommended by the council's professional officers to accept 17-tonnes."

He explained that the engineers who had concluded it could only take seven tonnes were quoting a scenario where heavy lorries were bumper to bumper on the bridge.

Cllr Harkin added: "This decision was made after taking professional advice. The assistant director recommended the higher weight limit and does Cllr Walsh think we would be daft enough not to take a decision relating to public safety without acting on this advice?"