King’s Lynn residents will have to wait for lorry ban
Tennyson Avenue, in King's Lynn. Picture: Chris Bishop - Credit: Archant
Residents could have to wait at least a year for a ban on lorries using their street as a rat run.
People living on Tennyson Avenue, Tennyson Road and Vancouver Avenue in King's Lynn, say HGVs use the road as a rat run between the South Gate and Lynn Docks.
They want a 7.5 tonne weight limit, which would force lorries to use the bypass instead of taking a short cut past their homes.Officials agreed to begin drafting the order in response to a petition signed by hundreds of residents.
South Lynn county councillor Alexandra Kemp requested an update from county highways officials regarding how much longer the process might take.
'We are in the very early stages of the scheme development,' one said. 'The draft order needs to go out to public advert to assess any further comment – this is being prepared currently, stakeholder consultation is already complete.
'As I have previously advised, the making of a legal Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) can take a year or so from conception to having the TRO formally sealed. This is a formal legal requirement in order for the TRO to be legally enforceable.'
The route is also used to train learner lorry drivers. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency requested an exemption from the proposed lorry ban to allow this continue, but it is being removed after objections from Miss Kemp.
Residents are celebrating another victory in the battle to stop drivers speeding along the route.
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West Norfolk council has agreed to pay half the £7,000 cost of speed awareness signs. The rest of the money will come from county council community funds.
The signs, which will be installed next year, will warn drivers who are breaking the 30mph limit and also record vehicle speeds.
The Vancouver Avenue Community Speedwatch team was set up around a year ago.
Volunteers use speed cameras and drivers caught breaking the limit receive warning letters.
One member said: 'Each time we do a session it takes just a few minutes to catch dozens of drivers exceeding the 30mph limit by 10, 15 and even 20mph, and that includes articulated HGV's.
'The speed watch team have to stand and watch in horror as these 40 tonne monsters swerve around many children cycling too and from school.'
