Residents in Malvern are worried about HGVs driving through town, raising safety concerns for pedestrians and calling for traffic calming measures.
Malvern: There’s a lot of chatter among locals about heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) driving through the town. Councillor Beverley Nielsen is really feeling the heat from residents who are worried about their safety.
She mentioned that folks just want to stroll down the pavement without the fear of an HGV barreling down on them. It’s a real concern right now in Malvern.
Residents are calling for better traffic calming measures, like lower speed limits and other calming schemes. They want to feel safe in their own neighborhood.
Marc Bayliss, the cabinet member for highways, said they’ve already cut speeds in some areas. But he knows it doesn’t always sit well with everyone. It’s a tricky balance to strike.
He pointed out that while some people think of their road as “theirs,” it’s actually a public highway that needs to serve everyone. It’s a tough situation.
Panel chairman Alastair Adams shared that in the Vale of Evesham, they set up “lorry advisory routes” to tackle similar issues. They worked with haulage firms to create preferred routes, and it seems to help.
Cllr Nielsen suggested they might need to chat with some major carriers to get their cooperation. But with so many carriers passing through, it’s a challenge. They often take the easiest route, regardless of whether it’s a residential street.
This is causing a lot of worry for Malvern residents. There have been accidents, property damage, and close calls with pedestrians, especially young families and the elderly.
Sarah Gilmour from Worcestershire County Council explained that it’s tough to restrict HGVs. They can label a road as unsuitable for HGVs, but they can’t outright ban them unless there’s a specific legal reason.
It’s a complicated issue, and the community is hoping for some solutions soon.
