RESIDENTS in a borough village have called on Thurrock Council to revise diversion plans after suffering a deluge of HGVs driving through its centre.

While work is under way on nearby Cooper Shaw Road to replace stolen telephone wires, under direction of Thurrock Council a diversion sends vehicles through West Tilbury village. The council issued a traffic restriction order for the closure of Cooper Shaw Road, which lasts for 21 days, but had said the work would be completed by yesterday (Wednesday, 29 July) .

Yesterday residents reported volumes as heavy as 70 HGVs per hour diverting through the centre of the village via Rectory Road. The stream of vehicles continued today when Nub News visited the village, at the request of residents, to highlight the problem.

Residents acknowledge there is no other short route diversion than through the village, but say there could be a safer passage using Blue Anchor Lane, rather than Rectory Road. That is where a diversion sign directs traffic, but many HGVs have been ignoring it. Villagers say there has been no enforcement.

Alternatively, and it is much longer but was the choice during an earlier blockage on Station Road, traffic could go via wider roads via Gun Hill, Muckingford Road and East Tilbury. However, that is currently problematic as work is also underway on Station Road and Love Lane. Residents have questioned the competency and local knowledge of council officers and BT in not scheduling the work better to allow that as an alternative diversion.

Resident Lee Donaldson spoke to Nub News, saying: "West Tilbury's roads are narrow, residential in nature and were never designed to accommodate regular HGV traffic. Large vehicles create significant risks for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, children, elderly residents and other road users.

"These vehicles are also driving through at a speed which does not take into account this is a residential area, placing members of the public and other road users at significant risk.

"Visibility is restricted in several locations and the size of these vehicles substantially reduces reaction times and safe passing distances.

"It is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs if this activity continues unchecked."

There are also fears of the damage being caused by the lorries, with the historic village green already churned up in places by HGVs that have drifted of the road.

The fears of Mr Donaldson about a potential accident were echoed by his neighbour Sean Butler, who lives on Blue Anchor Lane and gets to bear the brunt of the lorries passing outside his home.

He told Nub News: "The HGVS are a danger. One nearly wiped out my stepdaughter who has only recently passed her driving test. Some drivers are responsible and slow down, others don't."

Another neighbour added: "West Tilbury is a designated Conservation Area. This designation exists to preserve and protect the village's special architectural and historic character, safeguard its heritage assets, and maintain the environment that makes the area unique.

"The continued use of village roads by large HGVs is wholly inconsistent with these objectives and presents significant risks to both the historic fabric of the village and the safety and wellbeing of residents.

"The concerns extend far beyond inconvenience and include threat to historic and listed buildings that contribute to its special character and significance.

"The vibration, weight and proximity of HGVs have the potential to cause structural damage over time, particularly to older buildings that were not built to withstand repeated heavy vehicle movements.

"Any damage to listed buildings or heritage assets would be extremely difficult and costly to remedy and could result in an irreversible loss to the historic environment."

And residents have raised environmental and health concerns, saying: "Increased HGV movements generate higher levels of noise pollution, air pollution and vehicle emissions. Residents are being exposed to unnecessary levels of diesel exhaust emissions, with obvious implications for public health and quality of life. The impact is particularly concerning for children, older residents and those with existing respiratory or health conditions."

And there is concern about how Thurrock Council appear to have waived existing restrictions aside to accommodate movement of the HGVs which include large scrap metal-shifting wagons and large aggregate carriers.

A further resident, who has work connections with agencies involved in the work and also asked not to be named, was critical of management and planning, added: "West Tilbury is subject to weight restrictions intended to prevent unsuitable heavy vehicles from using the village as a through route.

"These restrictions exist for good reason and are designed to protect residents, roads, buildings and the wider environment.

"Where HGVs enter the village without a legitimate exemption or access requirement, they appear to be acting contrary to the purpose of those restrictions.

"We are witnessing HGVs using the village throughout the day as a shortcut or transit route rather than for legitimate local access, undermining the effectiveness of the restriction and the protection it was intended to provide."

And they add they have been disappointed by the response of police and Thurrock Council to their complaints, saying: "Most frustratingly, residents continually find themselves directed between the Council and the Police, with each organisation appearing to refer responsibility elsewhere.

"Residents who report incidents o the council have been advised to contact the Police, while enquiries to the Police result in advice to contact the council. This cycle leaves residents without any meaningful resolution and allows the problem to continue unabated."

"This cannot continue. The current position creates the impression that a known safety issue is being acknowledged but not addressed. It should not require a serious injury, fatality, or significant damage to a listed building before effective action is taken.

"We need the Council, working in conjunction with the Police and any other relevant authorities, takes immediate steps to:

• Investigate the volume and frequency of HGV traffic through West Tilbury.
• Enforce the existing weight restrictions.
• Install or improve monitoring measures and signage where necessary.
• Engage directly with the businesses concerned to ensure their drivers adhere to appropriate routes
• Implement practical measures to prevent HGVs using the village as a through route.
• Provide residents with a clear explanation of which authority is responsible for enforcement and what actions are being taken.

"The risks are clear, the concerns have been repeatedly raised, and the potential consequences are significant. Action is required now, before a preventable incident occurs."

Thurrock Council, which has also authorised resurfacing work on Cooper Shaw Road for nine days at the end of September which could mean a repeat of this week's problems, has been asked to comment. We have also asked ward councillors Michelle Burton and Kevin Lawrence if they wish to comment.

Editorial comment: One thing does appear certain. Speaking to just one of the drivers, he said his company was now contracted to haul in one million tons of aggregate to Lower Thames Crossing sites across the region. Villagers and Nub News noticed vehicles from several different companies. If each has the same load to shift, the congestion and disruption to residents in rural areas and on rural roads is destine to get a lot worse before it gets any better.

The route of the controversial new highway cuts right through rural Thurrock, from the Thames riverside in the south to the M25 near Ockendon in the north. Traffic management and planning needs to seriously sharpen up its game!