February 18, 2013
England

Criticism after lorry delay

18 February 2013 | Northumberland Gazette | www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk

A windfarm developer has been accused of riding roughshod over residents, who have had to endure further disruption.

The latest episode happened on Monday when a vehicle delivering a turbine part became stuck for more than an hour as it was making its way to the site at Wingates.

The lorry got into difficulty between Southward Edge and the hamlet, at a point known as Fiddlers Elbow, and blocked the road for more than an hour, it has been claimed.

It follows an incident in December when a crane travelling to the windfarm, near Longhorsley, blocked the same road after skidding off the carriageway in icy conditions.

Just last month, Coun Glen Sanderson criticised the amount of construction traffic using the local road network and claimed it was causing damage.

He also questioned whether developer Infinis had made suitable arrangements for transport routes.

Monday’s incident has added to his frustrations.

“It would appear from all of the evidence that the developer of Wingates is riding roughshod over the local community,” said Coun Sanderson.

“This latest incident, which follows a very similar one not very long ago, is evidence that lessons are not being learned and it appears that the developer isn’t interested by the nuisance caused. The residents are owed a huge apology.

“They have had to endure not only noise and disruption from heavy construction traffic but it would appear that the taxpayer is also going to be left with a potentially huge bill for repairs to severely-damaged roads as a result of this traffic.”

Resident John Thompson was similarly scathing, saying: “The vehicle was stuck for over an hour, completely blocking the road. My wife got caught coming from Morpeth and she was behind it for 65 minutes.”

Mr Thompson said the road has been widened, but even when lorries can get through it is causing delays and damage.

“The local road network is now a mass of potholes and entire sections at the edge of the roads are breaking up,” he said.

The Gazette contacted Infinis for a statement but the company declined to comment.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/02/18/criticism-after-lorry-delay/