Huge lorries are being directed on to country lanes around Oswestry by Sat-Nav systems, causing mayhem on the rural roads.Locals say the devices are just part of the problem in the picturesque Maesbury and Maesbury Marsh area where some lorries are having to use the roads to deliver to businesses in the area.
Residents claim roads are being ruined, lives put at danger and the blossoming tourism industry put at jeopardy by the massive articulated lorries.
Iain Campbell from the Canal Central post office, shop and tearoom, said he was concerned about recent planning decisions that had seen permission granted for a new agricultural business and conditions lifted on another premises - both of which had led to a big increase in lorries using the lanes.
“Thanks to the planners we are getting huge artics using the tortuous lanes around here that are completely unsuitable for such heavy lorries,” he said.
“These lorries, built for main roads, are having to go through fords and even over lift bridges to get to their destination. Some drivers are directed by their Sat-Navs but others are coming here to get to businesses that should be on an industrial estate.”
Margaret Jones, who lives in the area, said she encountered the huge lorries regularly when driving to and from her home.
“These are lanes built in Saxon times, they are not meant for these lorries and it is so dangerous,” she said.
“The tractors and milk lorries are bad enough but we put up with them because this is an agricultural area. We should not have to put up with the HGVs as well.
“Hundreds of thousands of pounds are being spent on regenerating the canal to build up the tourism industry but people are not going to want to come here when the area is being ruined by the lorries.”
Hugh Dannatt, from Shropshire County Council’s traffic department, said: “The county council is reviewing the routing of heavy goods vehicles through the countryside but the issue is not as simple as it first seems.
“Consideration has to be given to the supply of materials and feeds and the collection of products from farms, industrial units and quarries.”
9 Comments
slow news day is it
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The devices aren’t the problem - it’s that they’re designed for cars - so if you enter ‘Shortest route’ it will do just that - take you by the shortest route, regardless of type of road.
Most of the brighter lorry drivers have realised this vital difference by now…
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Satnavs do not usually send vehicles on a route which involves lots of small roads, their default setting is to choose the quickest route, which usually takes the motorist to the nearest A road or motorway.
The problem here is the lorry drivers - all of our small roads are being clogged up by big lorries because they realise they save a lot of money in fuel by taking a shorter route, and often for them it is just as quick. The fact that they inconvenience everyone else, I’m sure they will be happy to tell you, is not their problem.
As for the comment about the ‘brighter’ lorry drivers - I dont think you’ll find many intelligent lorry drivers on our roads, although they are in charge of a vehicle which can cause carnage, lets face it, the majority of people who take this work do so because theyre too dumb to do anything better. You dont need an IQ test to drive a lorry, although surely it would be wise to implement such a policy if we want to improve safety on our roads.
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‘David’ how can you say that all lorry drivers are dumb?? just cause they choose to drive for a living rather than stuck in an office doing paperwork..
If santa’s sleigh broke down he would have to drive a lorry so watch what you say or you may not get any prezzies this year
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The drivers could simply program the sat-nav device so that it avoids small roads in their route.
Also, Bob, if Santa had to use lorries, his convoy would be over 36000 HGVs long!
How did we ever manage without sat-nav!
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Lorries are definately in the increase within the countyside. I ride my horse along the lanes and roads of the maesbury area, i now have to pick my riding times carefully as a lorry passed me too fast and not wide enough, my horse threw me and guess what the lorry driver didnt even slow down, just left me lying in the verge! Lorry drivers arent dumb, but rather thrown up rather than brought up!
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david id like to see u driving an artic through maesbury it takes a lot of skill cos half the people who moan about speeders are the ones who speed ,i walk my dogs in maesbury at night and you would be surprised how many 2 faced people there are.and i think its time u left the edwards family alone we where all young at some time in our lives.also david dont give up your day job old lad when i drive my lorry past ur house im going to let u have the pleasure of hearing my air horns {hoot.hoot}
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sam did u have ur reflectives on also most riders are miserable and dont even say thankyou when we do pass slow any way what about the nice mess u leave behind when our children walk or bike to school
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merry xmas everyone shall we take a day off from it all
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