HGVs…. a growing problem
Shenstone has had problems with 44 tonne heavy commercial vehicles using the narrow road through the village perfectly leagally on the way to a badly located industrial estate.
Over the last year or so problems in Hopwas with HCV drivers simply ignoring weight restrictions through the centre of the village have been on the increase. I’ve arranged for the police to do the odd enforcement operation there but when they’re gone drivers are quickly back to ignoring restrictions.
And now there’s Edingale where over the last month locals have found massive lorries using weight restricted small winding roads which are just not suitable for that size of vehicle. It’s a real headache to tackle and the problem itself is at best inconvenient for local people and at worst a real danger wherever it happens.
Hopwas and Edingale are enforcement issues but the problem is not seen as a priority for either the police or the County, the two main agencies responsible for Traffic Regulation Orders such as weight restrictions. In fact, I learned this week that, the Labour controlled County Council made a policy decision several years ago to cease any proactive enforcement, instead leaving it purely to the police.
So, I’ve been in talks to renew some of the work that the County used to do on this. HGVs will become a bigger and bigger problem over the coming years and the County are doing little to plan strategically to cater for the growth in massive lorries using the Staffordshire road network.
On the positive (but short term) side I’ve now agreed for County to arrange some work around enforcing problem areas where HGVs are ignoring the restrictions.
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3 comments
Heavy goods vehicles driving through Edingale not only pose a hazard to drivers and pedestrians in the village but alos to drivers on the Croxall Road, Lullington Road and Edingale Lane. These three roads were not built to take HGV’s; one day there will be a serious accident caused by an HGV driver who is just too tired to take ‘the long way round’. It’s about time the police enforced the 7.5 ton weight restriction on these roads.
I can confirm the problems in Shenstone again. Mr Ellis worked exceptionally hard for us not that long ago. The big European user of HGVs finally moved thanks to his efforts and for some months Shenstone was the quiet, tranquil and, above all, safe place it always was. Over the past year or so the problems have returned, not with one big haulier but many small ones. I remember at the time there were no legal powers available and the only reason the big firm went was via pressure. I wish Edingale luck with their problem but we’ll need to borrow Mr Ellis back to deal with ours again shortly.
We live just outside Tamworth and are constantly having HGVs ignoring the weight restriction.
The police just aren’t bothered and if it goes on people here will take direct action to stop HGVs using roads illegally!!!
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