‘Tackle HGV issue before someone is seriously hurt’
GWYNEDD Council has admitted there is little they can do to prevent HGV drivers from ignoring warning signs after a lorry crashed into a bank this week.
Calls have been made for better signs to stop large vehicles driving up Penlan Street in Pwllheli after a lorry smashed into the side of the HSBC building last week.
This incident comes just two weeks after a woman was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries when she was struck by a lorry along the same street.
Fears are now growing that someone else could be seriously injured or killed if large vehicles continue to use the narrow street.
Residents are now urging council chiefs to update their signs, which currently only advise heavy vehicle drivers that the street is unsuitable for them rather than forbidding access.
Joanne Partington, director of the two Pollecoff’s clothing stores in the town said: “Thankfully, the lorry didn’t hit our building this time but we have been hit in the past.
“It is a very tight corner and it is definitely too tight for big lorries.
“We often see lorry drivers mount the pavement opposite the store and then they drive along the path because it’s so narrow.
“There are signs at the bottom of Penlan street but they obviously aren’t effective.
“I don’t know what the solution is but it’s a very worrying situation.”
It is believed that the lorry driver had driven up Penlan street and had attempted to turn left on to the high street when the collision occurred at around 1pm on August 23.
A spokesman for HSBC con- firmed an articulated lorry scraped the side of the building, causing slight damage to one of the external stone sills under a window.
The branch remained open for the rest of the day and no one was injured during the crash.
Gwynedd Councillor for Pwllheli’s north ward is now concerned that if something isn’t done to prevent further smashes then someone will be “seriously hurt”.
Cllr Dylan Bullard said: “This seems to be happening more often with the increase in traffic down the high street and up Penlan street.
“It’s seems that there’s an issue with the signage as it isn’t preventing large vehicle drivers from coming up the street.
“It’s an issue that Gwynedd Council needs to address sooner rather than later before someone gets seriously hurt.”
A Gwynedd Council spokesman said: “We are aware of this matter, and the council has explored various possible options to change traffic flow in the town centre.
“However, due to the numerous businesses located along Stryd Penlan, a number of HGV vehicles require access to deliver goods on a daily basis and it would therefore be difficult to restrict entry for such vehicles.
“Signs are in place at the bottom of the street advising HGV drivers that the road is unsuitable for large vehicles.”