|
|
|
What is LORD?
Everything in our homes, to the bricks themselves and the food in the cupboards, arrived at some point on a lorry. Lorries are an essential part of our economy. However, we all know - homeowners, hauliers, lorry drivers, highway engineers - that some roads are suitable for lorries and some are not.
The problem is that a combination of overcrowded roads, the widespread use of satellite navigation systems, the increasing number of long distance lorries unfamiliar with local roads and the increasing size of the lorries themselves mean that too many lorries end up using inappropriate roads either unknowingly, or sometimes illegally. It's in nobody's interests that lorries get stuck or cause dangerous incidents, least of all those of local residents and the lorry drivers themselves.
LORD is an action group focussed on reducing
the inappropriate, unnecessary or illegal use of minor rural (and Urban) roads by HGVS. We try to bring together all the stakeholders to find constructive local solutions to the problem. |
|
Current Situation with Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council has taken this issue seriously and has worked with LORD, Parish Councils and other stakeholders to identify 8 action points:
- Freight Quality Partnerships are to be formed in all boroughs
- Freight companies to agree with councils, and SCC suitable routes for HGVs
- Maps to be published of agreed routes for HGVs for each borough (available for downloading by public)
- Map showing through-routes for HGVs to be published
- SCC to advise Met office on what roads to be excluded for HGV satellite navigation
- Public to report any HGVs using roads not on borough maps through SCC website
- SCC to write to offending freight companies
- SCC may involve police where HGVS are regular offenders.
Most recently, LORD has started to work with Surrey County Council on the issue of how Operator Licences are granted. Operator Licences are the licences lorry drivers need and currently the Road Traffic Act requires the Traffic Commissioners to consider only limited factors in granting licences. LORD wishes to see local people, including Parish Councils, more involved in consultations around the granting of O licences, and that the Traffic Commissioners take into account local environmental factors including the suitability of near by minor roads.
|
|
Who is LORD?
LORD was founded by concerned Surrey residents who recognised that the solution needs to involve many different stakeholders. LORD engages, or seeks to engage, with:
- Surrey County Council. The Council has the challenging task of maintaining almost all of the affected A, B, C and D roads in Surrey including signage and designation. However, Surrey cannot know where the problem roads lie without the involvement of local communiities.
- Parish Councils. The many parishes around Surrey are the closest statutory body to the problem but have no enforcement powers themselves. LORD is pleased to represent or speak with 46 Parish Councils in Surrey who seek to present a coherent voice to the other stakeholders.
- Hauliers. LORD is not an anti-lorry movement. LORD wants to work with hauliers to help ensure that lorries use the right roads. This is in the hauliers' interests as much as local residents'.
- Satellite navigation mapping companies. Satellite navigation is ubiquitous, particularly amongst lorry drivers. It is important that the mapping directs lorry drivers to roads they can use. LORD seeks to work with the mapping companies to ensure routing is accurate.
| |
|
"I have long-term issues with lorries on a local road" go to 
