Petition aims to stop HGVs going through village

MP Mike Martin said HGVs regularly become stuck on an S-bend in Goudhurst

An MP who claims sat-nav companies have been "sending" HGVs through a small Kent village has launched a petition to clear large vehicles from the roads.

Tunbridge Wells' Liberal Democrat MP Mike Martin said lorries frequently used the A262 when travelling between Ashford and Tunbridge Wells, despite the road being narrow and passing through small villages, including Goudhurst.

"Residents in Goudhurst have been putting up with unacceptable traffic delays, and vehicle and property damage for far too long," he added.

A spokesperson for Google, which owns Google Maps, said it encouraged drivers of larger vehicles to use navigation tools designed specifically for those vehicles.

Martin said HGVs regularly became stuck while driving around the "sharp S-bend" on the A262 through the centre of Goudhurst and it had caused huge traffic backups.

The MP believed the journey between Ashford and Tunbridge Wells would be quicker along the M20 and A228.

"Sat-nav companies should not be sending dangerous lorries down our small village roads when the alternative route is clearly safer and quicker," he added.

Campaigners said HGVs had caused damage to cars, listed buildings and the local church

A Google spokesperson said: "Google Maps is designed for standard-sized vehicles. To get the best routes, we encourage drivers of trucks and larger vehicles to use navigation tools designed specifically for those vehicle types."

A number of other sav-nav companies have been contacted, including TomTom and Apple.

Robert Barr lives locally and said he had seen traffic increase "by 50% through the village while I've been here".

"A bypass needs to be built around Goudhurst as it is an A-road and important for connecting this part of Kent", he said.

Villagers say tight sections of road on Goudhurst High Street are not suitable for HGVs

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent, Helen Sampson, from the A262 Traffic Action Group, said: "We've had damage to the church that's been replaced numerous times, there's damage to the Grade II listed properties around here and damage to cars.

"As well as making it almost impossible to walk up and down the road at certain times of the day, we're now working as a collective with two other villages and we're actively campaigning to try and get Kent County Council to engage and to help us to stop this chaos."

The group has been campaigning for six years, Ms Sampson said.

Campaigner Helen Sampson is among those urging the coincil to change route guidance for HGVs

A spokesperson from The Road Haulage Association said: "Lorries do a fantastic job ensuring shops and other businesses have all the things we need, but no-one wants to see them using unsuitable routes.

"This is why we urge hauliers to plan their journeys to avoid getting into difficulties and to follow signage and directions from the authorities."