Firm slammed for ‘reckless’ driving (From Wiltshire Times)
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Firm slammed for ‘reckless’ driving
3:31pm Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in Trowbridge
Parish councillor Steve Siddall, left, with residents Andrew Pearce, right, Dee Hughes, Sue Chapman, Ralph Arlett and Pat Ladd
WORRIED residents in Holt feel they are being ignored by a contracting company which is continuing to drive ‘recklessly’ through the village.
MJ Church lorries have been transporting mud and clay along the B3107 through Holt to a landfill site at Cumberwell since December.
The parish council have written to MJ Church twice, reminding it that its lorries are travelling at a speed which is considered unsafe, but villagers claim the problem continues.
Steve Siddall, 66, of Ham Green is on the parish council. He can hear and see the lorries going past his house in both directions every 10 minutes.
He said: “While they may not be breaking the speed limit, these vehicles are fully loaded with clay, and with engines at full revs they are going at way beyond a speed in which they could safely stop.
“It is a worry for children and the elderly because they are driving recklessly in the narrow and winding streets of the village.
“I sent the director of MJ Church an email and despite his assurances that he would deal with the matter, nothing has changed.
“We want these drivers to be responsible, but nothing is being done. The road carries a lot of traffic. A lot of people have been talking about it because it is affecting so many residents.”
Dee Hughes, of The Midlands in Holt, walks along the main road with her dogs twice a day.
She said: “The lorries come up so close to the pavement I can almost feel them brushing past and the dogs leap away. The drivers are very cavalier in their attitude to the village, it’s disturbing.
“This morning two lorries went past in convoy with only a few feet between them.
“They rumble and race through the village, but they are not the only culprits. It is a danger for people walking, particularly with dogs. It’s an unpleasant situation that needs to be addressed.”
The company, which is based in Marshfield, near Chippenham, declined to comment when contacted by the Wiltshire Times.
