Quiet Village Life Shattered by Digital Directive
The serene existence of Lullington, a picturesque Somerset village, has been shattered since July, when residents say a Google Maps blunder began directing heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) down their single-track lanes. What was once a quiet slice of the countryside has become an improbable and destructive 'shortcut' for lorries trying to reach the nearby town of Frome and a local creamery.
A Trail of Destruction on Narrow Lanes
The consequences have been severe and costly. Historic bridges, walls, Grade II listed homes, and even residents' cars have sustained significant damage. Gus Colquhoun, the chair of Lullington Parish Meeting, explained that the village's infrastructure is simply not built for such traffic. "The trouble is that it is a single-track road," he said. "If a lorry comes down, there is nowhere to go - they can't turn around, and they can't go back up. They have to back all the way up through the village with a huge truck - and it is a disaster."
The village bridge has been a particular casualty, having been damaged twice already this year by the oversized vehicles. The problem is compounded by the fact that many of these incidents occur under the cover of darkness, leaving residents to discover the damage in the morning.
Residents' Lives Turned Upside Down
For the people of Lullington, the constant stream of lorries has become a source of anxiety and disruption. Nicola Hall, a 74-year-old who has lived in the village for 45 years, expressed her worries about her property. "There is a thatch property that when a lorry comes along, it actually can impact on the thatch - and it costs thousands," she said. She feels that neither the lorry companies nor Google Maps are taking responsibility for the havoc.
The disruption is also a daily nuisance. Tanja Barefield, a 50-year-old nurse, revealed that a lorry gets stuck on a weekly basis, with one incident taking an hour and a half to resolve. Her husband's car was also damaged in the chaos. "Both me and my husband work from home so it's been quite time consuming because you have to go out and move your cars," she added, describing how the village has been 'bombarded'.
A Search for Solutions and Responsibility
In response, the local parish council has taken action, erecting signs that warn drivers there is 'no access for turning HGVs' and urging them not to 'follow [their] sat nav[s]'. This measure appears to be having a positive effect, with residents noting a decrease in lorry traffic since the signs went up last week.
There is a consensus that the lorry drivers themselves are not primarily at fault. Mr Colquhoun stated, "It is not the fault of the lorry drivers because they are just following their sat nav." He confirmed that the parish council has been in touch with the owners of one lorry company, who have admitted fault and are looking to repair damaged walls.
A spokesperson for Somerset Council acknowledged the issue, stating, "Somerset Council has been working collaboratively with Lullington Parish Council to address the inappropriate use of local roads by vehicles accessing nearby businesses." The council confirmed that additional positive lorry route signage will be installed in the coming weeks to guide drivers more appropriately away from the village's unsuitable lanes.
