Village wall smashed by lorry amid calls for HGV ban

A lorry has crashed into a village wall, sparking a fresh call to ban large vehicles from using part of a crossroads.

Drivers in Wateringbury, near East Malling^[1], faced delays after the HGV hit part of the village hall's outer wall at around 8.45am this morning.

The village hall wall was hit by the turning lorry. Picture: Cllr Sarah Hudson

Leader of Tonbridge and Malling council, Matt Boughton, warned drivers to avoid the road.

He said the incident highlighted the issues with lorries using the A26 west of the crossroads.

He said: “Cllr Sarah Hudson and I are campaigning to have the stretch of the A26 Tonbridge Road west of the crossroads classified as a route unsuitable for HGVs.”

Wateringbury crossroads near East Malling at 9.05 this morning. Picture: Christian Ball

The village hall wall after the incident. Picture: Cllr Sarah Hudson

Cllr Hudson told KentOnline that there are designated routes for HGVs to use however this is not enforceable by law.

The police were called just before 8.45am and shut the road. It was then re-opened at 9.15am.

Drivers reported that the usual three-minute journey through the crossroads took around 15 minutes.

References

1. ^{^} East Malling (www.kentonline.co.uk)