This article has been updated.
This was the scene today on Manor Lane when a huge articulated truck got stuck near the junction with Southbrook Road as it tried to make it turn. A recovery tractor was sent in to extricate it, but it took several hours for the road to be cleared.
Linda and Roger Wanbon provided these pictures. The truck belongs to efs.global who told us “The driver was attempting to make a delivery for a school, our customer had pre advised it was ok for an artic delivery, but the driver couldn’t get there and got stuck on the road. His vehicle also then wouldn’t start so we then had to wait for a recovery truck. “
This was always happening when we lived close to this junction. There needs to be clear signage ensuring lorries do not attempt to drive down Manor Lane.
I saw a long articulated truck successfully maneuver the tight junction of Longhurst Rd to Micheldever Rd using rear trailer steering as though it was a normal day. They cleared that junction faster than any learner driver in the SE13 postcode.
I have witnessed a similar problem involving a smaller Travis Perkins lorry attempting to turn into Micheldever Road from Manor Lane.
Whether or not the driver was skilled and/ or just unlucky on the day he or she had to reverse onto the pavement that was at the rear of his/her truck and after some manoevring managed to proceed.
Some residents living in Manor Lane want the restriction to through traffic being reintroduced near the railway bridge.
If this were to happen and lorries were still allowed to make deliveries to the several roads linking Manor Lane with Burnt Ash Road I suspect the problems of danger to the public as well as more pollution would be exacerbated.