HGVs using village short-cut blamed for 'carnage'

HGV drivers have been accused of causing "carnage" by ignoring diversion signs to cut through a village.

A stretch of about two miles of the A267 near Mayfield, East Sussex, has been closed since roadworks began to repair gas pipes damaged by a contractor doing drainage work.

The work has been ongoing since 16 February and is expected to continue until 10 April.

Gas company SGN said it was aware some larger vehicles had been ignoring diversion signs.

Mayfield and Five Ashes Parish councillor, Ian Parker, said: "When you get 20 or 30 of those a day trying to come through this High Street and you've got cars you've got just carnage, it was absolute carnage."

Fellow councillor Joel Marlow called the the A267 a "key" A road used by about 10,000 drivers each day.

Since the closure displaced traffic has been trying to cut through Mayfield, he says.

"The village high street is a narrow 20 mph road that was never designed to accommodate HGV traffic," Marlow said.

"It is heavily used by pedestrians, including children walking to school, and parents with pushchairs.

"Despite official diversion signage, HGV drivers are routinely ignoring the diversion and travelling directly through the village," Marlow said.

He said HGV's were getting stuck and blocking roads causing "significant" disruption.

Crashes were being narrowly avoided almost every day, he added.

"Residents are increasingly concerned that it is only a matter of time before a serious injury or fatality occurs," Marlow says.

East Sussex Highways said the problems began when a contractor doing drainage work damaged a gas main.

It said: "Repairs were made by SGN and supplies were restored.

"SGN has taken the opportunity to carry out upgrade work of gas mains they had already identified as in need of replacement."

SGN spokesman, Dan Brown, said: "We're aware larger vehicles have not been following the signed diversion route and using unsuitable local roads instead."

"Our operative is stationed at the closure point directing through-traffic back to the official diversion and allowing access for residents and businesses within the closure only."

Some drivers, Brown said, had directed "threatening behaviour" toward the worker which he dubbed "unacceptable".

"CCTV recording is now in place and any further incidents of abusive or threatening behaviour will be reported to the police."

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