March will mark a year since the launch of the Clean Air Zone, which has overall reduced average nitrogen dioxide levels across the city.

The biggest change to it yet could see a new charge levied on even the cleanest HGVs weighing over twelve tonnes in a bid to cut the numbers driving through the city and to protect the historic Cleveland Bridge.

Cabinet members backed the idea after hearing it was more likely to succeed than a unilateral decision to impose a weight limit on the Grade II*-listed bridge.

It is currently undergoing £3.8 million in repairs and more will be needed in a decade if nothing is done to stop the bridge being “pummelled” by HGVs.

But Wiltshire Council leaders have threatened to “formally oppose these plans at every step possible and keep standing up for our towns, villages and communities”, with worries of traffic displacement.

Bath and North East Somerset Council is still unable to say when Cleveland Bridge, currently closed to vehicles wider than two metres, will fully reopen.

Transport bosses said the work could impact on other planned maintenance and events in Bath into 2022 after engineers identified a further 28 repairs in addition to 21 already accounted for.

The project paused over Christmas, resuming again this week, with an update on the works expected in the middle of this month.