Audlem HGV issue hits headlines

Friday morning's Audlem Online story about Irene Stockton calling Culina about one of their HGVs blocking Audlem's village centre was that afternoon's front page headline story in the Shropshire Star.

Under the headline "Online War Over Lorries", the newspaper went on to describe the "Website pledge in row over HGVs blocking village routes."

Parish Councillor Irene is widely quoted in the story, saying: "Large vehicles coming through the village are a big problem and needs to be sorted to keep everyone in the village safe.

"The problem is," she added, "the roads are so narrow and are not designed to hold large vehicles. I don't understand why they come through here because there are better alternatives they can go on.

"Hopefully contacting the companies and enforcing weight limits will prevent these vehicles from causing chaos."

Audlem Online's story was: When Audlem Parish Councillor, Irene Stockton, saw a Culina articulated truck blocking the centre of Audlem on Wednesday this week, she decided it was time to swing into action.

She called the company's head office in Market Drayton and asked why a truck was passing through Audlem on a road that had been removed from the Primary Route Network when, as she had ascertained, it was heading for Stafford.

The Deputy Transport Manager said he'd investigate and get back to Irene. Despite wondering whether she would ever receive that call, Irene was pleased that the company responded as promised.

They said that it had been an agency driver in that particular vehicle and that the company's drivers were being briefed about the de-priming and the congestion that's caused on Audlem's narrow roads through the village.

Audlem Parish Council has said that it is going to contact truck companies whose trucks regularly drive through the village and, working with the Parish Plan Traffic & Transport working group, encourage them to drive via the alternative roads, namely those on Primary Route Network, they should be using.

If you see an HGV causing problems, or see a company's trucks regularly coming this way, please let the Parish Council know or email a message to editor@audlem.org">editor@audlem.org

Ideally, take a photograph – landscape format please – and that can be used on Audlem Online in a 'Name & Shame' campaign.

Work is now underway to try to have weight limits imposed on one or more of Audlem's bridges as the most effective way to discourage the long-distance HGVs. So far, the Audlem Online Vote Poll on this issue shows 93% of the near 250 readers voting in favour of weight limits.

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