WITH focus once again turned on a busy Thurrock road which has often been at the centre of controversy, Thurrock Council is warning HGV and lorry drivers that out-of-hours movements on it will not be tolerated.

As exclusively reported by Thurrock Nub News earlier this month a planning application – which has been widely opposed by residents – has been submitted to the council by a local firm who wish to relocate their scrap metal business to the Stanhope industrial site at the end of Wharf Road in Stanford-le-Hope (see story via the red button below).

The application brought longstanding traffic congestion and access problems back to the fore of many people's minds – not least, it seems, the council.

Today (Thursday, 19 December) it issued a statement on the issue. It read: "CCTV cameras were installed earlier this year to monitor vehicles leaving and heading towards Stanhope Industrial Estate in Wharf Road after the council received a number of complaints about movements outside the permitted hours of 7am to 7pm.

"Enforcement officers have used the cameras, which can read registration plates, to record breaches outside of the permitted times to the industrial estate, which is accessed via Wharf Road past residential properties.

"CCTV images have since been used to issue the first Temporary Stop Notice (TSN) and the first Breach of Condition Notice (BCN) on an occupier on Stanhope Estate to cease the movement of service, delivery or collection vehicles visiting or leaving the estate other than between the hours of 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday."

Today Cllr Ben Maney, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "We take the issue of unauthorised lorry and HGV movements on our residential streets very seriously and are sending a clear message to these drivers and the companies that they work for that we will not tolerate this public nuisance.

"The CCTV has been installed so that when residents report out-of-hour lorry movements, the council can check the CCTV to verify the breach and then commence informal/formal proceedings.

"We will continue to work with affected residents to ensure that enforcement action is made on any driving breaches made outside the specified times and days on the Stanhope Estate."

Ward councillor and borough mayor Terry Piccolo welcomed the news saying: "After pushing for the installation of the cameras it is good to see that any inconsiderate operators flouting the restrictions can now be brought to task."