Residents of the tiny Somerset village of Lullington, located about three miles north of Frome, are urgently calling on the council for assistance after a surge of lorry traffic has put their community and heritage at risk.
For the past six months, villagers have witnessed an increasing number of lorries using their narrow, single-track road as a shortcut, primarily to reach the nearby Andros creamery. The problem began when Google Maps started directing drivers through Lullington, bypassing the main B3090 road.
Chair of Lullington Parish Meeting, Gus Colquhoun, explains that these heavy vehicles have frequently become stuck, often having to reverse through the village, causing disruptions and damage. Most concerning is the harm being inflicted on the Grade II listed walls and the village’s historic bridge, both critical parts of the conservation area.
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Colquhoun warns, “The destruction of our Grade II listed walls is alarming. The bridge is now in a very dangerous condition.”
Though there is a suitable main road serving the creamery, satellite navigation systems continue to funnel lorry drivers through Lullington’s unsuitable thoroughfare. Despite requests for the council to install weight restriction signs, the community has seen little effective intervention.
While one councillor has contacted the Highways Authority, no satisfactory solution has yet materialized. A spokesperson for Somerset Council acknowledged the issue and confirmed that additional signage will be installed soon to guide lorries onto appropriate routes. They emphasized that the problematic road is not part of the strategic network and attributed much of the problem to sat nav directions.
The village hopes these measures will soon prevent heavy vehicles from endangering Lullington’s historic character and the safety of its residents.