A divisive heavy-vehicle ban in Clyde's historic district seems likely after it has been endorsed by the council's roading manager.
This week, the Central Otago District Council released a report from its roading team recommending vehicles weighing over 11,000kg be restricted from driving through parts of the town.
This would restrict large trucks and trucks with trailers from driving through an area of Sunderland St between Fraser St and the southern lookout access, which contains many of the town's historic buildings and businesses.
Parts of several adjoining streets would also be off-limits, as well as a small section of Fache St between Naylor and Fraser Sts.
Buses, campervans, and emergency vehicles would still be able to access the areas.
The report said the town's tourism relied on its "charm'', which was disturbed by large vehicles.
These vehicles became dangerous when there were large numbers of pedestrians and cyclists on the narrow streets, it said.
Certain heavy vehicles are already restricted from crossing Clyde Bridge, but enforcement requires police to use specialist measuring equipment which is not widely available.
This amendment could decrease the number of these vehicles crossing the bridge as the new rule was easier to understand, the report said.
A survey of a section of Sunderland St in March 2015 showed nine large trucks and seven trucks with trailers passed through over a five-day period.
Although the amount was "not great'', most of them were during the day when the street was at its busiest, the report said.
The most significant risk of the ban was heavy vehicle operators would not find it fair as it could increase driving distances of trucks using the town as a thoroughfare by 3.6km, it said.
In November, Lynne Stewart, of Earnscleugh, presented a 64-signature petition to the council asking it to ban heavy vehicles in parts of the town.
The petition divided business owners, some saying it was unnecessary as heavy traffic was low, and others saying it was a working town in which such traffic was necessary.
A decision will be made at a council meeting on Wednesday.
