A LANDOWNER admits he has been left in disbelief after seeing lorry drivers ignore “huge” new warning signs about a notoriously low bridge.

The extra signage has been installed in Rivenhall to stop HGVs from attempting to pass through the village and getting stuck along Oak Road because of the low bridge.

Essex Highways put the signs up in September but Graham Avery, who owns a parcel of land near to the bridge, says he has seen at least three lorries ignore the signs and get stuck in the past week.

Mr Avery said: “I’m not even on my land that often so who knows how many of these lorries are getting stuck still.

“I was just astounded when I saw it happening and could not believe it.

“These new signs they’ve put up in the village are enormous – there is no way you can miss them.

“But we’re still getting these dirty great big lorries coming down the road and finding they can’t go under the bridge.

“I had an argument with one of the drivers and another one just blamed his sat nav.

“I just can’t understand why they are ignoring the signs.”

Mr Avery says one of the lorries which got stuck last week damaged his gate post when trying to turn around.

He has also seen a shed on his land badly damaged in the past when another HGV was attempting to turn around.

He admits he now dreads visits to his property because of the long-standing problem with lorries, but doesn’t know what else can be done to resolve the issue.

Mr Avery added: “What more can the council do if these drivers are missing these big new signs which light up when they go near them?

“I really thought the signs would help.

“I breathed a sigh of relief when they were put in because I am so fed up with this.

“It causes damage to my land and it always causes traffic when the lorries get stuck.

“The roads around here clearly aren’t suitable for big vehicles because there are so many sharp bends and turns.

“These drivers just seem to do whatever they want.”

Highways reveals issue with warning sign

ROAD bosses have revealed not all low bridge warning signs are working in Rivenhall.

Essex Highways has confirmed one of the electronic signs is not currently working but says it is being fixed.

The signs, thought to have cost about £23,000, were installed following campaigning from district councillors.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “The Braintree Local Highway Panel agreed to put in extra signs here to warn drivers of HGVs of the low bridge.

“These are now in place and should greatly improve the situation.

“However, we apologise that only the signs on Church Road are working properly at the moment.

“Signs on Rickstones Road are not yet operational, due to a technical issue which contractor Swarco are currently working on.

“We trust these signs too will be operational very quickly.”