Route review Tam very concerned that a 'large number of
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trucks, particularly tippers, are choosing to use the A515 between Sudbury and Alrewas, Staffs instead of the newly opened A50/A38 link.
Although this route is shorter, by some 5.9 miles, the delays, narrow roads, sharp bends and hills more than make up for the saving in mileage. No account is being taken of running costs such as fuel, brakes, clutches and diffs.
Many of the larger hauliers use the new A50/A38 route, but the remainder, mainly tippers and bulk tankers, still think the A515 is a faster route. The biggest problem is speeding.
The majority of trucks on the straighter parts are on the maximum of their speed limiters on what is little more than a country lane.
Indeed, many of the older trucks (presumably without speed limiters) have regularly been followed at speeds in excess of 70mph. They also come through these tiny villages braking and accelerating hard, completely ignoring the speed limits.
The police are aware of the problem of speeding trucks, but do not have the resources to stop it. We wish therefore to lobby the hauliers, hoping that they may have some influence on their drivers.
Only the drivers speeding by a big margin find this route faster, and we would ask for your advice on how to curb this menace.
We are proposing to get video recordings of the problems to show to the various transport managers, although our impression from talking to some of them is that they will only "have a word with the drivers".
I speak on behalf of the people in the villages affected, and we have just heard that a long proposed bypass has finally been cancelled.
We would welcome the opportunity to show you the problem first hand if you are in the Midlands, and look forward to hearing your comments and advice in due course.
Peter J Gender, Yoxall, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs