Putting a stop to lorries

Calls are being made to designate Southwell as unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles in a bid to stop drivers using it as a cut-through.

Concerns have been raised that drivers are using unsuitable roads as rat-runs and large vehicles are being directed down narrow lanes by satellite navigation systems.

Southwell Town Council plans to ask Nottinghamshire County Council to designate roads in Southwell as unsuitable for HGVs, which would mean they were less likely to be used on routes created by sat navs.

Mr Peter Harris, chairman of Southwell Town Forum, said if the roads were given the designation, it would have an impact for those using sat navs.

He said: “The software they use considers the road to be unlikely to provide a quicker route if it is not suitable for HGVs, so it does make a difference.

“Where they have done this in towns in Leicestershire it has made a significant difference.”

Town councillor Mr Andy Gregory said there were often problems on Park Lane and Crink Lane because vehicles heading towards Southwell Racecourse were directed by sat navs down the narrow roads.

He said: “You wouldn’t believe the amount of traffic that goes down there on a race day.

“We had to reverse a HGV up to Brackenhurst Farm so it could turn round in the farmyard after it got stuck. We get coaches up there as well.

“I did suggest to the county council it would be just as easy to put up not suitable for HGV signs but they cost about £700 each so they didn’t think it was worth it.

“It really isn’t necessary for HGVs to go through the town at all.”

Mr Gregory said Hopkiln Lane was being used as a cut-through and the town council’s highways committee was looking into the possibility moving 30mph speed limit signs to include the road to encourage drivers to slow down.

He said: “At the moment Hopkiln Lane doesn’t have speed restrictions on it. It is a dangerous road and people speed along it.”

A resident, Mr Peter Kent, said he noticed when he was travelling using a sat nav it instructed him to use Hopkiln Lane.

Halloughton Road was also identified as a problem area.

Mr Harris said it was up to the town forum and the town council to put pressure on the county council to designate roads as unsuitable for HGVs.