Lorries in Market Street

Wed 28 Aug 2013, 11:18 (last edited on Wed 28 Aug 2013, 18:50)

The restrictions in Market Street are part of the overall Charlbury centre restrictions which have been in place for some years. The signs are at 5 ways (preventing access down Hixet Wood and Park Street) at the top of Dancers Hill, and at the top of Enstone Road. Before the bridge restrictions heavy traffic could therefore only travel through Charlbury along the Slade,down Nine Acres and then either left to Burford or right to Chipping Norton. (If you look at Google Street View it shows the signage before the bridge restrictions came into force) Now of course heavy traffic can only turn right to Chipping Norton. But access is permitted. It may be that some of the heavy stuff was coming and going to the Wilderness Festival and turned left when leaving Cornbury by the North Lodge and therefore through town.
Trading Standards enforce it and if given evidence (photographs etc) will fine companies and/or drivers. Their website previously referred to also contains a handy picture guide to identifying sizes of trucks. www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/sites/default/files/folders/documents/business/tradingstandards/wr.pdf

Wed 28 Aug 2013, 06:22

A huge lorry went down Market Street yesterday which was without a doubt more than the weight allowed. Maybe start taking down number plates?

Fri 23 Aug 2013, 21:09

It looks like you can report a lorry breaking the weight limit here: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/weight-restriction-orders .

Fri 23 Aug 2013, 17:45

There has been a 7.5 tonne weight limit in the central streets of Charlbury for many, many years now. The only exceptions are for coaches and access. Any vehicle over 7.5 tonnes attempting to drive down Market St is breaking the law (unless they can prove they are delivering to an address in that street)

Fri 23 Aug 2013, 07:10

I totally agree with you Rachel. At the moment we seem to spend alot of time unblocking Market Street when big lorries or coaches get stuck & traffic backs up, taking time out of work. As you have said - any work that is carried out needs to be monitored & I think there should be clear signs to stop the very big lorries/coaches using Market Street at the moment as there is just not enough room to get through at the end with cars parked & the scaffolding.

Thu 22 Aug 2013, 20:32

I have been running a business in market street for 13 years now and I don't think in that time there hasn't been a week without renovations to old properties. One problem is GPS which the lorry drivers are relying on. Second the size of the HGV's have increased. And thirdly the builders on site for these renovations need to be more aware. My landlord recently did some renovations to our roof. He was on site every day and made sure the road was clear opposite. The work was carried out quickly and efficiently. No problems. Where are the builders?? Our street light was knocked off the wall and hanging dangerously by a wire because of a lorry having to reverse the whole length of market street. What annoys me the most about these works is not once have I ever had any acknowledgment for the disruption and chaos every time this happens.

Sat 17 Aug 2013, 09:25

For many years I have always said that you should only park if you think a fire engine will pass without hinderance, even if you are parking legally. But in respect of the recent signage due to the road works in Chippy, it seems that too many signs are causing confusion, whilst you are driving you're trying to read and understand the signs whilst moving!

Thu 15 Aug 2013, 21:35

The Black 4X4 is asking to be damaged not parked close to the kerb opposite stuck out in the road some times not to cleaver.

Thu 15 Aug 2013, 18:57

Nothing new regarding wing mirror problems in market street. The issue of broken glass and plastic surrounds has been an issue for well over 25 years. The erection of scaffold to maintain the wonderful properties in charlbury is and will be an on going situation. - an easy solution........no parking opposite scaffold. Or an underpass ,!!!!

Just think what it would be like if the buses were to come down market street again

It won't last forever

Mon 12 Aug 2013, 17:45

I was following The lady that took the Lorry drivers number plate down I over took the Driver and stopped her to tell her of the damage she claims she did not know but she scraped the mirror on the black 4X4 parked over from the scaffold as well If any ones knows the Van Driver tell him I Witnessed it al well.

Mon 12 Aug 2013, 16:05

Thanks to all for your helpful comments.. I shall email Roger Clarke!

David

Mon 12 Aug 2013, 08:46

Another fun weekend! Saturday saw a horsebox take out someone's wing mirror on Market Street; the driver carried on without leaving details. Fortunately there were a couple of witnesses who took down its registration.

Then this morning, just after 2am, a mahoosive lorry got as far as the Post Office before realising it clearly wasn't going to fit any further, and deciding to reverse back to the Bull. It was from a company called 'Fly by Nite' who appear to be entertainment and "rock band" specialists, so I presume it had come from Wilderness.

Fri 9 Aug 2013, 17:01

I wonder if part of the problem is the signage re the diversions because of the Chipping Norton closure causing traffic to come down Market Street that shouldn't. The idea is for traffic (including lorries) to come off the A44 at Enstone into Charlbury, turn right onto Nine Acres lane and out of Charlbury on the Spelsbury Road. Although there is a clear diversion sign for traffic to make this right turn and not go straight ahead, there are also diversion signs relating to the bridge restrictions and yet another yellow sign that asks Festival traffic not to go straight ahead through the town. Maybe this is being interpreted as "Non-festival traffic" can? Too many signs are maybe causing confusion.

Thu 8 Aug 2013, 18:58

Parking suspensions is dealt with by west Oxfordshire highways department by licence which should be sorted out by the scaffold company and home owner. You can report it on here link fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk/

Thu 8 Aug 2013, 15:00

A big lorry got stuck last week down there due to people parking opposite the scaffolding. If cars don't park there then vehicles can get past. Perhaps whoever is involved with the scaffolding should put no parking signs opposite the work? However - I agree with whats been mentioned about the size of lorries. Some are just way too big to come through Charlbury & especially over the bridge. How the one that got stuck ever got out of Charlbury, I never know.

Thu 8 Aug 2013, 09:46

Also consider no lorries in the centre of Charlbury means no deliveries = no parcels and no shops.

Perhaps the consideration is the parking as well.

Thu 8 Aug 2013, 09:03

Hi, there are two things you can do. One, contact WODC and inform them of what is happening and also Oxfordshire County Council. You can also send a quick email to the town clerk, Roger Clarke, at charlburytc@btinternet.com. He will be able to reply to you within a few days.

Wed 7 Aug 2013, 23:14

Hi All

The barminess of allowing large vehicles through the middle of town has become even more apparent with the presence of scaffolding on market street..twice in 3 or 4 days we have had lorries threatening parked cars and buildings, or stuck fast until someone moves a car.

Has this problem been considered before?

How should one go about getting it addressed?
Any advice or comment welcome!

Best to all

David Pollock