Stopping the trucks in their tracks

Trucks taking building supplies to Persimmon Homes’ development in Norton, near Worcester, were yesterday using Talavera Road as a route to the site.

One of the conditions on which planning for the housing development was granted was that no vehicles would use the quiet residential street for access.

People were so outraged by their road being used, they created a chicane out of their own cars – allowing access for small vehicles but not for the large eight-wheeled trucks which had been travelling up and down the road.

Barbara and Tony Pieda, who have lived on the road for a number of years, were flabbergasted when they confronted the truck drivers, only to be asked why they were complaining, as they had already taken “14 or 15 loads” down the road.

She said: “They are not meant to be coming down our road. We were promised no construction traffic would come through.

“So we made a chicane with help from our neighbours. They were trying to get us to move our cars, but we are perfectly within our rights to park them there.”

However, the company said it wrote to inform all residents of their need to use the road.

Richard Oldroyd, managing director for Persimmon Homes South Midlands, said: “Prior to commencing construction, we needed to provide a welfare cabin for our site workers and unfortunately at the time, the only access to the development was via the surrounding residential roads.

“We wrote to each household informing them of our intention, inviting them to contact us directly should this be an issue.

“I’d like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused and would like to reassure local residents that we aren’t expecting to use the side roads again.”

Graeme Duerden, development control manager (enforcement) at Wychavon District Council, said: “The details have been reported to us and the enforcement team will conduct a site visit this evening.

"If there is any breach of planning conditions, the matter will be dealt with appropriately.”