Too big: HGVs are banned in Sonning
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HGVs still using Sonning as rat run
By Lewis RuddJune 23, 2009
Lorry drivers felt the long arm of the law when Sonning decided to get tough with those using the village as a rat-run.
Members of Sonning Parish Council teamed up with residents to carry out a survey of all lorries over the weight of seven-and-a-half-tonnes passing through the village.
The group cuaght more than 25 overweight lorries passing through the village in a day, despite a ban introduced last year.
Six parish councillors and residents spent 11 hours sitting at the mini-roundabout between Charvil Lane, Pearson Road and Thames Street taking down the details and photographing any vehicle exceeding the weight limit.
The team, which took it in turns to patrol throughout the campaign last Wednesday, were later joined by the police.
Between the hours of 6am and 5pm the team managed to clock more than 25 overweight HGVs, with the police officers stop-checking a number of these drivers during the afternoon.
The team said the day had helped thevillage learn patterns of when drivers are entering the village.
Information gathered on the day will be used by the parish council, which will write to the companies owning the HGVs to advise them that one of their vehicles was seen entering a village which prohibits HGVs over seven-and-a-half-tonnes.
Councillor Ken Peters, chairman of the parish council’s transport committee, said: “We had a long day.
“It was very useful in terms of getting information about those who continue to drive through the village and learning about the patterns of traffic so we can pick and choose the times when we are likely to make the most impact when carrying out these surveys in the future.”
The ban on lorries was introduced last year by Wokingham Borough Council, however villagers have continued to see HGVs drive through Sonning.
A number of signs were installed along the A4 warning drivers about the ban, which covers vehicles using the village as a cut-through.
Parish councillors say the lorries leave a trail of destruction along the village’s narrow streets, pavements and listed buildings, while endangering the lives of pedestrians.
A permanent ban is impossible due to the coaches and vehicles visiting the Mill at Sonning and those residents awaiting deliveries and removal lorries.
Mr Peters said: “There are definitely periods in the day when there is a peak, but HGV drivers tend not to come through the village during rush hour because it can take them a lot longer to get through.
“A lot of damage is being caused to the infrastructure and kerbside because of these vehicles.
“I don’t think you can blame satellite navigation systems because you don’t really see any intercontinental lorries coming through, it’s usually those drivers who think they can get away with it.”
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Most recent user comments 4 of 4
It is sometimes quicker to go through sonning that having to go into Reading then back out over the bridge and along the Henley Road.
23/06/2009 at 16:49 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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What are the powers that be doing to improve road conditions elsewhere to further persuade these drivers to use the correct routes to get to their destinations?
If all this bluster changes nothing about the legality of the manouveurs of these vehicles then nothing has been gained.
But I could wax lyrical about a huge number of road planning errors made here in Reading in what is seen by many as attempts to annoy and upset as many road users as possible.
23/06/2009 at 16:12 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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23/06/2009 at 11:38 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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I was glad to see the survey - and glad it was so successful!
23/06/2009 at 11:33 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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