LORRIES and heavy goods vehicles have been banned from using most of the roads around Middlewich town centre, in a substantial effort to protect the town’s ancient church.

Cheshire East Council receives no shortage of complaints about the large amount of HGVs travelling through the town centre, with the town providing a main link to the M6.

But when St Michael’s Church in High Town raised concerns about large vehicles colliding with the church walls while trying to navigate the town’s narrow roads, the response was more than the church expected.

Michael Reed, who is leading the church’s large-scale restoration project, costing £1.2 million, said: “The request we made was focused on heavy vehicles turning onto Hightown from Queen Street. We have had three incidents in recent years where heavy vehicles have driven into the church wall and taken bits off.

“After that comes an insurance claim which is difficult when you don’t know who has done it.”

The order imposed by the council will officially come into effect from tomorrow, Friday, and will ban ‘heavy commercial vehicles’ with a weight in excess of 7.5 tonnes from using 35 roads around the town centre, with exceptions for delivery access. The roads include High Town, Wheelock Street, Queen Street, and St Ann’s Road.

A spokesman for Cheshire East Council said: “Over-sized lorries and HGVs, including some approaching 40 tonnes in weight are travelling through the area.

“Due to the position of weight restricted canal bridges and the absence of turning areas, these vehicles must exit the area via Hightown.

“Not only are the roads and junctions within this residential area not designed to accommodate these large vehicles, it has been observed these vehicles are unable to turn right out onto Hightown from Queen Street without the danger of damaging adjacent building.”

Cllr Mike Parsons, Middlewich ward member at Cheshire East Council, welcomed the news and said the town’s 12th century church must be protected.

Cllr Parsons said: “The order will keep heavy vehicles out of the town centre, but the priority is to protect the church. The church has been affected so many times.”