Residents in Hellingly have taken to the streets and won a battle to halt local construction traffic destroying the village roads and putting lives at risk.
Campaigners finally had enough of the constant lorries taking a shortcut via Station Road and Church Road en route to local building sites operated by Jenners. They say the lorries are putting local schoolchildren in danger and damaging the roads and homes in the village.
They carried out protests in two locations, the first outside of the site of the Old Nursery, and the second in the village at Church Road, where HGVs were stopped and asked why they were not using the main A267 route to the sites.
Residents fear the Victorian built bridge, part of the Hellingly Village’s ancient heritage could be destroyed by the weight and level of traffic passing through.
Hellingly resident of 40 years Gill Riches, said: “Station and Church Road residents have experienced a huge increase in volume and speed of traffic with much of the road and verges destroyed as convoys of lorries plough through the village leaving devastation in their wake.”
Traffic calming measures are in place including single track passing points, along with a 20 mph speed limit, but residents say it is not policed.
Villager Nicola Phillips, said: “Villagers are literally taking their lives into their hands every day when they walk their children to the village school, go for a run or take their dog for a walk, in fear of being mown down or sworn at or abused. It’s horrendous.“
Jessica Daley, a young Mum whose two small children attend Hellingly Village School believes it’s only a matter of time until there’s a serious accident. She commented: “The lorries charge down the road sometimes up to 12 of them in a row. I can’t bear to think what would happen if they hit a child. Taking my children to school is quite literally taking our lives into our hands. Sometimes I get home and just cry, it’s terrifying.”
During the protests on 25th March, the group held placards and told the developers the issues they have with a megaphone. On one occasion during the morning, one of the HGVs stopped to throw abuse at the protesters.
Michael Hix, Chair of Governors at Hellingly School said: “We understand and share the local community’s fears about traffic, especially heavy lorries, using Station Road. We have made contact with local councils, including the County Council, our MP and others regarding our concerns about the increased traffic, heavy goods vehicles and the risk to our pupils and families. Station Road is not designed for heavy lorries and we have argued further, effective improvements are needed to keep our pupils and families safe.”
Just hours after the protests, there was good news, when Lance Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of the Gallagher Group which operates the trucks promised he would make immediate changes.
He told Hailsham News: “We were emailed by our client’s buyer earlier today, asking us to update our aggregate delivery order/tickets, instructing drivers they must turn right on exiting the site and they cannot travel down Church Road or Station Road.”
He added: “We are also investigating the reported behaviour of one of our drivers as we have four-way cameras that would have recorded the events with sound. Any inappropriate behaviour will lead to disciplinary proceedings.”
Hailsham News also contacted Councillor David White who said: “I am delighted with the action taken by local residents. Hellingly Parish Council has for some months been complaining to Wealden Planners about the condition of Park Road and the abuse by contractors visiting the Jenner’s development site in Park Road that continue to use the local roads through the Village in contravention of the terms of the site travel plan.”
He added: “One of the Parish Councillors has recently provided photographic evidence of offending HGVs that we have forwarded to Wealden. With the added action being taken by the residents perhaps enforcement action will be now taken.”
