Lorry petition sent to committee

A councillor who handed in a petition over concerns about lorries on a Newark road wants a quick resolution to the issue.

The petition calls for a weight restriction on Boundary Road to reduce the number of lorries, and the speed at which they travel down the road.

A lorry count, which took place between 6am and 7pm, saw 342 lorries travel along the road in one day.

County councillor for Newark West, Mr Keith Girling, presented the petition to a full meeting of the council.

It has been sent to the chairman of the council’s community and place committee.

Officers will conduct an impact assessment before presenting recommendations.

The outcome is unlikely to affect any delivery vehicles, which are exempt from weight restrictions.

Mr Girling said he wanted the issue to be resolved quickly.

He said: “The petition has been sent to committee and has been given every opportunity.

“I will do what I can to push the petition along. It’s an important issue to the residents of Boundary Road.”

Several people commented on the Advertiser’s Facebook page after last week’s story that highlighted the concerns.

Katie Fretwell said she was in favour of the petition.

“I live on Boundary Road and it’s horrible at 2am when articulated lorries thunder past, waking everyone up. It feels like an earthquake,” she said.

James Spindley thought any restriction would encourage more traffic elsewhere.

He said: “If this road does end up with a restriction, the alternative routes would be Victoria Street, Bowbridge Road and London Road ­— all of which are a nightmare at peak times.

“When Boundary Road had a temporary closure earlier in the year it was a nightmare to get through Newark centre, so by restricting this access surely the problem is just being moved elsewhere?”