Plans for new signage near Galley Hill Road to stop lorries causing …
Plans are in place to reinstall “No HGV” signs after “confused foreign lorry drivers” misread diversion signs and crashed into walls and parked cars in a cul-de-sac.
Disgruntled residents called for the return of the clear blue and white signs at the end of their road in Phoenix Parc, in Northfleet[1] as they say truck driver are mis-interpreting the current signs and causing havoc.
Lorries are still getting stuck in Phoenix Court in Swanscombe
Resident Tanya Banks, who lives on the corner of Galley Hill Road and Black Eagle Drive, has already had her front wall knocked down twice by lorries since the diversion was first put in place.
It’s been there nearly two months ago and two parked cars were hit at the weekend.
A spokesperson for Kent County Council said it has listened to residents worried about the diversion and will be installing ‘No HGV’ signs at numerous locations in the area, as well as ensuring restricted access with physical controls and temporary traffic regulation orders .
“Our team continues to closely monitor the situation and the diversions, and we are liaising with local council representatives to ensure the most effective traffic controls are in place,” they said.
A lorry knocked down a wall in Phoenix Park in Northfleet
When control of the site passed from Thames Water to Kent County Council these signs were removed and replaced with different ones.
But the mum-of-two Tanya, 51, said the new ones were inadequate.
“Since the blue sign was removed we are getting endless HGVS having to turn at the bottom of Phoenix Park,” she said.
“Several cars got hit on Saturday afternoon. While we were in the garden we counted six lorries turning round in our road during just that afternoon.”
She said that most seemed to be foreign vehicles who may have misread the signs.
Tanya added: “There is a very misleading sign on the football ground roundabout saying that the A226 is closed after Swanscombe High Street.
Signs at the bottom of Galley Hill Road in Northfleet are confusing drivers
The blue and white sign the residents are calling for
“So they believe they can go up Galley Hill. This included two lorries trying to get to Swanscombe.”
Kent County Councillor for Swanscombe and Greenhithe, Peter Harman said: “When the council took control of the area it took away the previous signs and put in its own.
“But the white on blue ones were much more effective as foreign lorry drivers are not necessarily aware of where the A226 is.”
Cllr Harman said he will be attending a meeting with the council next week which will hopefully lead to some improved signs being installed.
The A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe has been closed between Swanscombe High Street and Ebbsfleet Football Ground since a suspected burst water pipe[2] caused the collapse of part of the road and pavement on Easter bank holiday weekend.
Work is ongoing to determine the cause of the collapse but there is no indication yet as to when the road will reopen.
References
- ^ Northfleet (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ burst water pipe (www.kentonline.co.uk)