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Ortons: HGVs 'a danger to children' on narrow village street
RESIDENTS of a leafy village road are up in arms at the volume of lorries thundering down their usually sleepy street.
RESIDENTS of a leafy village road are up in arms at the volume of lorries thundering down their usually sleepy street.Last week, one of the juggernauts smashed into a householder's car, and they claim the giant vehicles regularly block their street off.
The lorries are delivering meat products to family-run business R&P Meats at the top of Cherry Orton Road in Orton Waterville, Peterborough.
As the company has expanded, locals say the number of vehicles squeezing down the narrow road or parking while they unload have soared.
They also say they are suffering with the racket, diesel fumes and danger posed by the lorries.
Ray Harvey (65), who lives down the road, was shocked to see a HGV reversing down his street.
The retired RAF warrant officer said: "We are in a conservation area. There's a business at the top and we are getting juggernauts coming up the road, which is only suitable for cars.
"One ran straight into my car because it couldn't make it through.
"We have been arguing with the council about vehicles going down the road. They are just getting bigger and bigger.
"They have reached such a size, it's a danger to old people and children.
"There should be a road sign saying residents and pedestrians only."
Bernard Singer (68), a retired university lecturer, said: "It's a horror story. Sometimes it's not just one but a stack of lorries parking here and it's absolute mayhem.
"The volume of traffic can't get into the yard to unload so unloads on the street.
"The road is often blocked. It was blocked four times last week."
Owner of R&P Meats Ricky Phillips said it was the first time in 40 years that a lorry had hit a car in the road and that they did everything they could to minimise disruption.
He said: "The company is growing. A lot of transport companies don't run small vehicles because articulated lorries carry more produce.
"I purchase the products – I'm not responsible for the transport they are using.
"We can't ask them to unload in a layby and send vans down because we have fresh deliveries daily.
"It's not just our lorries, it's other shops, too.
"Orton Waterville is a beautiful area, I've lived here all my life. We do try to appease everyone to make things run as smoothly as possible."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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