Merstham residents call for action over lorries using narrow roads as shortcut
BUSINESS owners and residents living near a narrow street in Merstham are calling for immediate action to stop lost lorries reversing up their road.
Campaigners told the Mirror they welcomed plans by Surrey County Council to paint double-yellow lines on parts of School Hill near the railway bridge, and make a stretch of the road pedestrian-only.
But they said the proposals did not go far enough and that problems would persist even if these changes take effect this summer.
Christine Scott, an administrator at Bairstow Eves, works on School Hill by the junction with Merstham High Street.
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She said: "I've seen it all – even a car transporter backing up.
"They have to back up the road and around the corner. They stop when they see the sign for the low bridge and have to reverse up the right-hand side of the road – the wrong side.
"If they have someone with them they can get out and help, but they can't do it if they are on their own. One day there will be a kiddie behind them. What will happen then?
"I'm in favour of the changes they are making but it won't be enough."
High Street Art Gallery owner Julie Bond, 49, agreed, adding: "There have been numerous occasions when myself and the other shopkeepers here have had to go outside – it probably happens about three times a week.
"We stop the traffic and redirect what is mostly huge juggernaut lorries using School Hill as a shortcut.
"Their sat-navs probably bring them down here to get to the A25. There is a sign but it's not at the mouth of the road, and it's only on one side."
A Surrey County Council spokesman said: "We have checked the signs for School Hill and they are all in place, warning drivers of the low bridge. We are very aware of the problems of sat-navs sending lorries down unsuitable roads, and have been working on solutions.
"We have a dedicated freight officer and freight transport pages on our website which enable residents to report problem routes.
"We are drawing up lists of unsuitable routes to be passed on to Ordnance Survey and sat-nav companies so they can be filtered out of systems used by lorries."
Comments
by 1stephen
Monday, April 23 2012, 1:30PM
“Perhaps prominent low bridge warning signs should also be provided on the main road signage plus getting the map data suppliers to the Sat nav companies to provide accurate data.”