Bakery lorries 'causing havoc' to residents (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Bakery lorries 'causing havoc' to residents

8:38am Friday 30th July 2004 in News By Lucy Oldham

"PLEASE don't ignore us, Richmond council" is the plea from residents in Gould Road, Twickenham, this week who are exasperated by large lorries causing havoc outside their homes.

Simon Cutler sent photographs to the Times of a pavement bollard he claims was knocked over by a lorry delivering to Greggs Bakery in Gould Road. Another picture shows a group of bakery staff 'bumping' a private parked car aside to make way for a delivery lorry.

Mr Cutler lives in Gould Road and 18 months ago he and other residents invited a councillor to meet them to discuss implementing a 7.5 ton vehicle limit for Edwin Road, Crane Road, May Road and Gould Road.

He claims the council have 'given up' replacing the pavement bollard on the corner of Gould Road and Crane Road, as it has been continuously knocked over by large lorries trying to turn the corner.

Mr Cutler says: "We were assured by incoming supplies manager Ian Blackwood of Greggs Bakery plant that no vehicle would attempt a delivery or run its engine in Gould Road before 7am. Yet this morning I was woken by a lorry idling its engine at 6.30am.

"It was impossible for him to turn the corner into Crane Road and I said his only option was to reverse back up Gould Road."

Mr Cutler says many residents have boycotted the bakery's products during the ongoing disputes and are also unhappy about staff discarding 'rubbish, protective headgear, hand towels and food debris' along Crane Road and Edwin Road.

A spokesman for the company commented: "Greggs as a community neighbour takes all feasible steps to reduce traffic noise and congestion. The company actively implements initiatives to limit the impact on the local community including limiting the size of supplier vehicles and a policy of no deliveries before 7am.

"As part of our continued community relations policy we have recently supported the local council in an environmental survey which was carried out in the surrounding area and Greggs have implemented a number of recommendations from the report."

He also believes that the issue of discarded rubbish from the bakery has now been addressed.

A council spokesman said: "We are aware of the problems and have certainly not ignored them.

"Funding was sought by the council from Transport for London through the 2004/05 Borough Spending Plan to implement a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) management scheme, designating routes for delivery lorries into and out of the bakery.

"This would have tackled some of the problems affecting the area. Unfortunately, the bid was unsuccessful. We are still seeking funding to progress this scheme."