A?£17,000 report into unauthorised lorries traveling through the town of Usk has been condemned by town councillors as a waste of money.

Speaking at Monday's meeting of the town council, Councillor Jill Jeremiah said, "Every area of the Jacob's report has already been discussed locally at length and the production of this document, I feel is just delaying tactics on behalf of the local authority.

"I'm disgusted that the report is said to have cost £17,000 and it's revealed nothing new that we hadn't already highlighted ourselves."

The council also heard that recent weeks have seen further worrying instances of HGVs suffering tyre blowouts after mounting pavement in the town centre.

Rosemary Cochrane of estate agent Digby Turner & Co in Usk's Bridge Street told the council, "On Wednesday, September 7 at around 9.30am a lorry burst a rear tyre as it was compressed against the kerbside outside Rennels dress shop.

"The owner, Evelyn was sweeping the entrance to her shop and was blown into the entrance by the force of the explosion.

"I have from my vantage point calculated that the volume of large vehicles has increased in recent weeks and I also heard that members of the public are being bumped on the shoulder by lorries' wing mirrors. Last year my office itself had extensive damage caused to the entrance way from the effects of a burst lorry tyre."

Councillor Brian Strong questioned the report and said at Monday's meeting of Usk Town Council: "Why has enforcement of the current traffic regulation order been so problematical?

"Most drivers reflect the law, but some using satellite navigation often choose to ignore the warning signs. However some tall vehicles travelling to the BAE factory at Glascoed are exempt from the legislation if they are unable to negotiate the low bridge at Little Mill."

Councillor Alec Leathwood said: "We need to do something now, I am rapidly coming to the conclusion we need a public meeting sooner than later.

"It's only a matter of time before we have a fatality on the bridge involving an HGV lorry after another incident involving an HGV vehicle that was highlighted to us last week."

Councillor Roger Galletley said: "This report has been shredded to ribbons by members of this council's HGV committee for stating the obvious."

"We need the current legislation rigorously enforced to show that Usk cannot be used as a through road for HGVs," added Councillor Strong.

Councillor Leathwood said: "We've already had two incidents of lorries tyres bursting and we cannot sit back and do nothing.

"It's not the problem of the tyres bursting itself, but the specially designed steel collared rim holding the tyre on the wheel that flies off that could take someone's head off."

Councillor Galletley added: "I have major concerns that despite all the efforts being made HGVs are still entering the town and lorry drivers, unsure of the road layout, are having to mount the pavement to avoid other vehicles or to get around the corner.

"The force of doing this is contributing to the amount of lorries bursting their tyres and in doing so creates a major traffic jam adding to the pollution problem that already exists in Usk".

Gareth Edwards, a co-opted member on Usk town Council's HGV committee commented on the Jacobs' report and said: "To be effective, a traffic road order must be enforced regularly as there are financial incentives to break the law. A sizeable minority of drivers and operators will flout the order unless they know it's being enforced.

"Effectively we are at the same position now as we were in March 2010, a stalemate situation.

"To rid the town being blighted by HGVs travelling through Usk we need to have a number of important issues resolved and if there is no change in the position then we need a further 'political agreement' to get this to the attention of Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet by instigating a public inquiry if necessary.

"We mean business and if this cannot be achieved to our satisfaction a further public meeting will be held to mount a high profile media protest campaign by using whatever means to gain attention."