PLANS to ban lorries and other HGVs from travelling through Holmes Chapel village centre have been rubber stamped by Cheshire East Council.

On February 4, following years of discussions and plans with Holmes Chapel Parish Council, Cheshire East officially notified the public that vehicles of 7.5 tonnes will not be able to pass through The Square in the village, apart from use for access.

From Friday, February 12, the HGVs will no longer be able to drive down the A50 London Road from its junction with A535 Macclesfield Road to its junction with the A54 Chester Road.

The prohibition also includes Macclesfield Road Westbound from its junction with Manor Lane to its junction with London Road.

Margaret Ranger, a councillor of Holmes Chapel Parish, said: “We have been working towards this since at least 2011 when I joined the council.

“Ever since, I have been involved in traffic SIDs and with highways to get some alleviation for the traffic problems we have had.

“We have held consultations with the public and held well publicised traffic meetings to try and find a solution. Most people did want this to happen but obviously one of the big concerns is that this will just move the problem further along.

“You cannot make the traffic disappear. But there were two pinch points by the church on the A50 and where Mandeville’s is on Macclesfield Road. These two areas were really bad and Macclesfield Road is narrow- people were fearing for their lives just walking on the pavements.

“This prohibition is an improvement and it doesn’t solve all the problems, we need to look at those problems as and when they arrive.

“On a completely personal level I feel very positive about this movement. From my point of view we have taken this forward and done what we set out to do.”

In 2010 Holmes Chapel Parish Council formed a traffic task group to discuss possible options for the town, which as well as banning HGV passage, also included pedestrianisation of the village centre or only allowing one way traffic.

At the time of going to press, the Guardian was awaiting an official comment from Cheshire East Council.