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Action planned at accident blackspot
Highway bosses are set to take action on a steep, winding street where several lorries - misled by satellite navigation systems - have wrecked walls, shattered steps and leaked diesel.
Residents in Starkholmes say they constantly face delays and disruption caused by articulated lorries getting stuck on the narrow lane.
Last week, a pet food lorry travelling down Riber Road, became wedged against a wall for almost two hours.
Police and a recovery vehicle were called out to help push the lorry down the street's hairpin bends, using a hydraulic ram.
But now Derbyshire County Council has agreed to increase road signs to warn the drivers of heavy goods vehicles that the road is unsuitable.
Town councillor and Starkholmes resident Ian Milne said: "It is a constant problem. We find lorries stuck all the time that have been following sat navs.
"There are weight limits identified at both sides but they are not prominent enough for people to see it and once they are in that road they reach a stage where they can't do anything about it.
"They can be stuck for half a day or longer and can knock down walls or go out of control on steep roads, if it is greasy.
"It is highly dangerous."
Starkholmes Traffic Action Group (STAG) has been lobbying the council to take action at the accident blackspot for over a year.
Long-awaited road improvements, which could see the road being narrowed, new road markings, extra signs, bollards and new parking bays, are set to be unveiled by highways bosses.
STAG member Paul Bradley said: "We have made many comments regarding lorries trying to turn and getting jammed on the roads. We have asked the weight restriction to be re-inforced.
"We will wait to see the finished job. Maybe it will be better than we think."
A spokeswoman for the county council said planned road improvements for Starkholmes would be revealed to the group shortly, before going out to public consultation.
She added that Riber Road to Starkholmes had a weight restriction of 7.5 tonnes and already had appropriate signs but extra road signs were set to be put up at either end to reinforce the message.
She added: "Motorists using sat nav still need to read signs and look out for limitations.
"We are already meeting the road requirements but want to help people who live in that area."
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Weather for Bakewell
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
