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The Clerk met with the HighwayEngland and Balfour Beatty on the 5th October 2021 to discuss problems of large vehicles accessing rural lanes in particular  Highcross Road.

Summary of discussions

  1. The have increased signage at Pepperhill, Bean and  Sandbanks Hill to try and stop vehicles getting to Highcross in the first place.
  2. They are going to try and identify Companies from photos to remind them to use the official diversion route north of the A2
  3. They are liaising with the police who are the only one that can enforce, a number of incidents have occurred where Lorry drivers have run over cones, hit signs and on one unfortunate incident a pedestrian (unfortunately this has halted due to the protests on Motorways.) They did admit that even with extra signs etc, if lorry drivers ignore them, there is little they can do without getting the police involved.
  4. They are working to schedule so hopefully weather permitted they will be done by the end of winter 2021 (and out of your hair, as they put it!!)

Highways England  have also taken on board the Chairman’s suggestion of including the Cheque Tree in its landscaping project, as it is of historical relevance to our area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbus_torminalis