Wem lorry route is safety worry claim residents

People living in Isherwoods Way in Wem, said the number of HGV's using the road has started to increase since delivery drivers to the town's Co-operative store began using a new route.

They claim at least 10 lorries a day are travelling along their street.

The residents said their lives have become a nightmare – and they expect it to get worse when the store doubles in size.

No-one from the Midcounties Co-operative was available to comment. The supermarket was given permission to expand and create 30 new jobs last year, despite a petition signed by 400 people.

Residents objected to the plans after raising concerns it would mean more lorries using the road. But they said their fears have already become a reality despite the fact the extension has not been completed yet.

Steven Floyd said works and delivery lorries travel at speed just six inches away from parked cars.

He said: "We have about 10 HGV's going up and down our road from 7am to 8pm and the road to the delivery yard at Co-op isn't even finished yet. It is just a nightmare.

"There's little children playing out there but those lorry drivers don't seem to care."

He added that children's lives are being put at risk and said: "It is just the speed, if they could drive at 10mph that would be nice but when they go spanking past it's not only the kids, but you can feel the house shaking."

He said he only expects the situation to get worse when the work on the store is completed and the store increases retail space from just over 10,000sq ft to almost 20,000sq ft – with food items increasing from 8,000 to 10,000.

Thelma Broom lives in the same road and said the number of lorries has increased in recent months.

She said: "When residents come home they park on the pavement and if they didn't the lorries wouldn't be able to get through. There certainly has been more heavy goods vehicles going to Co-op recently. We have got children and a playground down there which does not sit very comfortable with heavy goods vehicles."

Councillor Chris Mellings, Shropshire councillor for Wem, said up to 30 people had raised concerns with him and he thought it was "bizarre" that the lorries were being encouraged to use the road. He said: "The existing access through the High Street is not ideal but to suggest an exclusively residential street instead seems bizarre."

He said he will be holding a meeting with bosses at the Co-op.