OUTRAGED householders are calling for action to be taken after a lorry toppled over in the same spot as one that tipped up last year.
A EW Gardner and Grandson waste lorry lost its load on Tuesday, at Dauntsey Lock, near Lyneham, inches from the same place on the B4069 where one from the same company fell in May.
It is the sixth lorry to have fallen on the road in the past five years and local residents believe it is only a matter of time before someone is killed.
Andy Humm, a former RAF serviceman who runs the village website, said: “Wiltshire Council has done nothing to try and solve this problem. It has been going on for years.
“They are allowing huge industrial lorries to come up this road and it can’t cope; it isn’t made for vehicles of that size. The council has made it desirable for lorries to take this route rather than using the A-roads around Chippenham.
“We are going to end up with someone being killed. It is time the council did something. They are happy enough to spend millions on a new headquarters, but they won’t spend the tiny amount of money it would take to put a weight restriction up here.”
The 31-year-old driver involved in Tuesday’s accident escaped with minor injuries to his right arm.
Gardners told drivers to stop using the route through Lyneham after the last crash and it is thought the driver has been sacked for his actions. Police reported him for careless driving.
No one from the company was available for comment.
Eddie Vincent, who has lived at Dauntsey Banks for 28 years, said: “The road isn’t built for lorries. We get terrible subsidence up here.
“The worst thing about it is that it would be solved so easily by putting a 7.5 tonne weight limit here.”
Dick Tonge, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for highways, said: “A total ban on HGVs using this route would not be an option, as we would still have to allow for local deliveries along the B4069.
“Any ban would be very nearly impossible to enforce without following HGVs along the whole route, to ensure that they were not making deliveries.
“If a ban was to be considered, there would be serious opposition from other communities that would have HGVs displaced on to their roads.
“We have set up a voluntary agreement with hauliers which regularly use the B4069, to request they seek alternative routes when appropriate and have requested that they ask their drivers to drive considerately and within the speed limit. We have also put up signs to discourage HGVs from using the B4069.”
He said worried residents could set up a community Speedwatch scheme.
Coun Tonge added: “We are looking into measures which will help improve pedestrian safety along the B4069 and for other communities across the county.”
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