Bermuda truckers are hoping to be able to drive through Flatts Village again, despite a recent ban.

Richard Foggo, President of the Bermuda General Truckers Association, met with Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess on Monday to discuss the ban of Heavy Trucks and commercial vehicles travelling through the village.

After repeated complaints from Flatts residents, Works and Engineering banned trucks wider than 6ft 4in from North Shore Road between Store Hill and Palmetto Gardens in January last year. In a letter addressed to the Minister, Mr. Foggo said that the ban had caused the trucks to instead drive down Store Hill Road, causing problems for people who live in the area.

"The road is too narrow and they're breaking it up," Mr. Foggo wrote. "The walls and the roads have been damaged because of excessive loads carried upon it."

Instead of outright lifting the ban, Mr. Foggo suggesting limiting the ban to rush hour when traffic in the area is at its worst.

"If the Ministry would allow heavy trucks and commercial vehicles to pass through Flatts Village during non rush hour times, it would serve as an asset to all parties concerned."

Mr. Foggo also proposed lifting dumping fees at both the Airport and Marsh Folly waste facilities announced last month.

As of July 1, truckers face a fee of $20 for every load dropped off at the Airport, and $25 per load at the Marsh Folly facility.

"The problem with this rule is that being there is no weight station, it means even miniature loads would be charged the same as extensive loads," said Mr. Foggo. "We feel Government should not prematurely charge us these prices until the scale and business has been properly put into full effect.

Because the increased cost would likely be passed on to the customer, Mr. Foggo expressed concern that it would make illegal dumping more tempting.

"Considering these fees that are being implemented, we cannot help but anticipate the trash the public will be throwing on the roadsides, paths and railways," he said.

He also argued that the fee should not apply to rubble dumped because it is an asset which helps the Government with its landfill programme. It is believed that Mr. Burgess will reply to the concerns sometime today.