HGVs through village puts lives at risk - residents

Lorries have been going through the village of Hapton

Residents say they fears lives are being put at risk by lorries using their village as a rat run between two major roads.

Large vehicles are reported to have been using the narrow roads around Hapton, Norfolk, in recent weeks and the parish council is concerned about several near misses.

It is thought heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are using The Street to travel between the A11 and A140, with recent queues on the A11 near Norwich due to a lane being closed in both directions for work at the Thickthorn roundabout.

Alan Arber, Thurston and Hapton Parish Council clerk, said: "It is a miracle there haven't been more accidents."

The village's primary school is on the road, but parishioners say attempts to alert the authorities to the risks have gone unanswered.

Mr Arber continued: "Drivers have to swerve violently to pass these monsters that could hit them on the tight bends on our C-class road. We've all been nearly run off the road by them.

"This is causing despair and is a blight in our village. The roads are not suitable for lorries of this size."

The parish council says it has written to haulage firms using the route in recent weeks, demanding their drivers stop passing through Hapton.

It has also urged Norfolk County Council to act, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Highway officials have said there is no weight restriction on the road restricting HGVs.

But the parish council argues its narrow C-roads are not suitable - and has called for a weight restriction to be imposed.

Mr Arber added: "Anyone who knows the area would not dare to cycle on the road and walking is not safe.

"When lorries meet on these bends they have nowhere to go. They are damaging the ancient hedgerows as they squeeze past."

The eastern entrance to Hapton is using a sharp bend

A Norfolk County Council spokesperson said: "We do not currently have any works which are diverting traffic through this area.

"If this relates to the current works on the A11, then this is a matter for National Highways."

National Highways is advising HGVs to use the A140 and A14 as a diversion, going past Diss and Long Stratton, with the work to create contraflows south of Thickthorn set to end in mid-November.

Work on a revamp of the major interchange is due to start early next year and take around two years to complete, including building slip roads which will provide direct access on to the A47.