Cracks appear in walls after ‘seismic shakes’ from lorries
Frustrated residents say the “seismic shakes” from lorries trundling past their homes keep them up all night – and have even caused cracks in the walls.
One resident has stopped using the rooms at the front of her Hythe Road home in Ashford[1] because of the horrific noise from HGV traffic.
Others fear it is only a matter of time “before someone is killed or injured”.
The issue has become such a problem, more than half of residents along the A292 have signed a petition desperately calling on Kent Highways to find a solution to stop the lorries using the road as a cut-through to the M20.
It was presented to Ashford Borough Council’s (ABC) joint transportation board by resident Paul Collins who started the campaign alongside a neighbour.
Phoebe Hubbard, who has lived in Hythe Road for 25 years, signed the petition saying the severity of the situation has increased over the yers.
“The issue is worse at night when the M20 is closed for roadworks, as lorries use the road as a shortcut,” she explained.
Phoebe Hubbard from Hythe Road
“When I first moved here in 1998, it wasn’t this bad – but the volume of lorries has increased dramatically.
“The main reason it is particularly bad is because of the gaping holes in the road and poorly repaired service trenches.
“Big lorries come down and they bump over them and the whole house shakes.
“I had to have the front wall completely redone about five years ago when they were building Junction 10a and the lorry park because all the lorries were coming down here instead.”
Ms Hubbard says the vibrations are so strong that she believes they have caused cracks to appear in her property.
The cracked wall in Phoebe Hubbard’s home along Hythe Road
“This is an old house and I appreciate it needs maintenance, but there is no doubt for me the shaking has enhanced the destruction of the wall,” she said.
“We can’t use our front bedroom. We have moved to the back because the windows and the house shakes. It’s quite anxiety-making.
“We have also moved the living room to the back of the house.
“There are cracks in the front bedroom which have even pulled the wallpaper apart.
“Mentally it is very distressing – you just want to cry.”
Lorries regularly use Hythe Road as a cut through to the M20. Picture: Phoebe Hubbard
The problem is made worse by uneven road surfaces
Some HGVs are known to illegally park up at the Henwood Industrial Estate, towards the bottom of Hythe Road, instead of going to designated lorry parks overnight.
They then leave in the early hours to make their way to the M20.
In September 2003, an order to turn the A292 Hythe Road into a trunk road was made, meaning it became a recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic.
Mrs Hubbard says removing this title could be a solution to easing the traffic problems.
More than 230 people have signed the petition which has now been sent to Kent Highways for bosses to consider.
Residents want to stop lorries accessing the M20 from the A292 Hythe Road
Mr Collins, who presented it to ABC, said it is now more important than ever to find a solution as the situation has become “unbearable”.
He says residents were hoping the creation of Junction 10a would “solve a lot of our problems”. But it “seems to have made things worse”, along with the opening of the Inland Border Facility in Sevington where checks are carried out on some lorries travelling to and from Europe.
“Trucks ignore the speed camera because it doesn’t work, but also because Continental number plates can’t be prosecuted,” Mr Collins said.
“We are all longer-term residents so we are not new to this. It’s just getting to a point now where it is unacceptable.
“The council was the first step, but we are not going to let this rest until something is sorted.”
HGVs regularly park up on the Henwood Industrial Estate in Ashford
Clamping powers have not been extended to Henwood Industrial Estate where lorries park overnight
Average speed cameras have been suggested as a possible solution to slow down traffic.
Residents have also put forward the idea of banning HGVs from using Hythe Road between 10pm and 7am, as well as fixing the broken speed camera and closing the loophole which stops foreign drivers from being fined.
Since September, council contractors employed to clamp lorries were given increased powers[2] in a bid to stamp out illegal parking.
It means they have been able to issue enforcement notices – the document drivers have to pay – for on a trial basis at five locations across the borough.
However, the Henwood Industrial Estate, where drivers regularly park, is not included in the ban – something residents feel should change.
Geoff Mathews, a resident of more than 40 years, says Hythe Road has become so built-up, it is now unsuitable for HGVs and is joining calls to have them banned.
“It’s a built-up residential area with high traffic levels servicing three schools, two nursing homes and a special needs school,” he said.
“At peak times the existing pavements cannot cope with high levels of pedestrians, cyclists and of course school buses in addition to normal bus services.
“There are more than six pinch points that make it difficult for HGVs to pass each other safely.
“Below the railway bridge the houses are elevated by about 20ft so the vibration and disturbance is amplified causing the physical shaking of houses.
The A292 Hythe Road in Ashford
“This disturbance is damaging property and disturbing residents’ sleep and in many cases makes the front two bedrooms unusable.
“There is also a significant noise problem as these HGVs pass about every five minutes.
“Only a very small percentage of the HGVs need to access Henwood Industrial Estate. Most are just passing through or have been diverted because the M20 is closed.
“Surely these HGVs could be diverted round the Orbital [the A2070] and Junction 10 instead?
“Action must be taken before someone is killed or injured.”
References
- ^ Ashford (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ council contractors employed to clamp lorries were given increased powers (www.kentonline.co.uk)