Lorry misery of residents

Nov 1 2006 By Jane Tyler, Birmingham Mail

AN inquiry has been launched in a bid to move a gravel pit yard out of a residential cul-de-sac after a long-running residents' campaign.

For four years, families in Somery Road, Weoley Castle, have complained up to ten lorries a day "thundered up and down" their narrow street.

The 3.2-tonne trucks have been using a gravel pit at the bottom of the road owned by Kiely Bros, which has a road resurfacing contract with the city council.

Now Bartley Green councillor and city council housing boss Coun John Lines has launched an inquiry.

He has joined forces with Edgbaston constituency environmental spokeswoman, Coun Deirdre Alden, and Coun Mark Hill, chairman of the regeneration committee, to find an alternative location.

"This awful situation has been going on for too long," Coun Lines said.

"It was unacceptable to put such a yard slap-bang in a residential street in the first place.

"Over the years the residents have lodged several petitions calling for action but nothing has been done."

Resident Peter Taylor and his wife Brenda, both aged 52, welcomed the inquiry.

"Some days there are ten lorries using the road from 6am," he said. "They reverse down the road, throwing up dust, causing cracks in the road with their weight," Peter said.

Their neighbour, mum-of-three Debbie Harvey, aged 35, said: "It's only a small narrow cul-de-sac with fewer than 30 houses. "It's dangerous because we have lots of children and disabled people in this road."

No comment was available from Kiely Bros. ..SUPL: