SELBORNEÕS Lorrywatch pressure group has been advised to abandon its monitoring programme by the police.

Lorrywatch was set up by Selborne residents to monitor the passage of overweight goods vehicles through the village, in an effort to aid the police in administering fines and so discourage improper use of the roads.

But in a letter to its organisers, Pc Eric Martin, of Whitehill Traffic Police, has advised participants to call it a day.

Pc Martin said that he had received a complete list of participants, a complete list of results, and a complete breakdown of all of the activity in the monitored area.

However, he discouraged any future studies, because the process of following up the information with a view to administering fines was not cost efficient, and police resources could not be stretched that far. The fine is just £30, and with such a low figure it does not rate police priority.

ÒWhen we get the details from Lorrywatch it is still very hard and very time consuming to ascertain whether or not a vehicle is in fact under or over the weight limit of 7.5 tonnes.

ÒThe national register does not carry weight information, so the vehicles have to be traced one by one. Even if we do trace them, it is very hard to prove that they didnÕt have a right to be there,Ó said Pc martin.

ÒThe problem that we have is that the 7.5 tonne weight limit on the B3006 only applies to through traffic, and not to access traffic. Subsequently for action to be taken, lorries must be clocked entering the zone, traced all the way through the village to ensure that no drop is made, and traced leaving the village.

ÒThis is never going to be easy to prosecute, and even getting one prosecution is an achievement.

ÒThe fine is only £30 and the offence does not even carry penalty points. Lorrywatch saw sterling work by the participants and it was worth a try, but it is really too much effort for so little result, and it is really not energy efficient to continue. It has been a learning experience for us all.Ó

Selborne Parish Council is now looking at ways to carry the project forward. Chairman Alan Rushton said: ÒWe can write to the Chief Constable suggesting that the monitoring area becomes smaller so that we can enforce these laws, but the crunch of the matter is that itÕs only £30, so chasing these fines up is not a priority.Ó