Rotherfield landlord says call time on lorries near pub
AN HISTORIC pub has been hit by a lorry for the third time in a year.
The incident happened on Friday morning, while the landlord of The King's Arms in Rotherfield, Justin Scales, was preparing to open up.
-
BATTERED BRICKS: Landlord Justin Scales with more lorry damage to his King's Arms pub in Rotherfield
-
More lorry damage to the Kings Arms pub in Rotherfield on Friday 25th May
-
FLASHBACK: Problems with lorries in Rotherfield were reported in 2008
-
ONGOING: Landlords have been battling to ban lorries since 2005
Backed by Rotherfield Parish Council, for years he has been pressuring East Sussex County Council's highways department to ban lorries from Station Road.
Les Pike, chairman of Rotherfield Parish Council, said: "It's a Grade II-listed building. We should be protecting it not smashing it to bits."
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
Mr Scales, fed-up with dealing with insurance claims, said: "This big lorry was trying to turn into the High Street and the pub suddenly went black as it came past the window and blocked out all the light. Apparently the driver was trying to get to the industrial estate in Jarvis Brook but as he turned right the tiles came off the pub like Jenga blocks."
The King's Arms sits at the corner of Station Road and the High Street. Mr Scales, who has run the pub with his wife Kim for six years, has suggested HGVs heading for Crowborough from Wadhurst or Frant be sent south to Argos Hill first, then west up South Street.
He said: "There are things the county council could do. There should be a lorry ban from Mark Cross to Rotherfield. Lorries should go past The Bicycle Arms instead.
"Instead they've put up a sign here which says the road is 'unsuitable for HGVs' but when foreign drivers are following a sat-nav they'll ignore that.
"The sign at the moment is advisory but if it was 'No HGVs' then the diversion would be enforceable. They were going to put some bollards outside the pub but we're too close to the road.
Mr Pike, himself a former lorry driver, added: "We would all like to see an HGV ban but we're not getting far at the moment. We're having another meeting soon and it's back on the agenda.
County council spokesman James Holland said: "We appreciate this is very distressing for Mr Scales. We have discussed similar incidents with him in the past and have taken action to reduce the number of lorries using the route by putting up warning signs.
"We would be happy to talk to Mr Scales again and see if there is any more that can be done."
Comments
by JimbobJames
Friday, June 01 2012, 9:52AM
“I would hate to live or work there”
by MrSwing
Friday, June 01 2012, 9:15AM
“Every time I go through Rotherfield there is more damage to the pub.HGVs shouldnt be even attempting this route especially as its marked as unsuitable for them.
Perhaps plod could do something useful for a change and stop all HGVs using this route and going over their vehicles with a fine tooth comb as well as issuing tickets for driving without due care and attention for ignoring the signs.”