Lorry row rumbles through village

Garage owner Chris Lawrence is unhappy with the vehicle restrictions.

Weight restrictions placed on lorries accessing a Leicestershire garage are affecting trade and could cost jobs, some businesses are claiming.

A limit of 7.5 tonnes is being enforced on vehicles wanting to gain access to the Crossroads garage at Ellistown in Leicestershire.

Parish councillors said they had fears about increasing numbers of lorries.

But some traders argue that lorries going to a nearby brickyard still travel through the village.

Garage owner Chris Lawrence said the amount of vehicles using his garage on a daily basis "wasn't that many".

'Safeguard' village

He said: "We have about 20 lorries a day, which over a period of about 12 hours isn't that many really."

Mr Lawrence said up to 18 months ago there had been many more vehicles, using the garage, but this had now decreased.

Vice-chairman of Ellistown Parish Council, Alan Gamble, said he thought the ban on heavy lorries would safeguard the village.

He said: "Lorries have go to come in [to the village] to load and unload, but what bothers us is if the restriction is lifted, lorry drivers will just come in and they won't turn around when they've refuelled.

"They will go along the other main roads, which they have been doing."

Publicans David Rice and Leanne Lees also object to the restriction, saying it will damage their business.

Mr Rice said: "Mr Gamble brings it up on safety issues, but the part of the village that the trucks are allowed into is nowhere near the school.

"The trucks are doing no more than five miles an hour because of the roundabouts they have to negotiate, and trucks have always had access to the brickyard at the next village."