Campaigners in Woolley Street near Bradford on Avon are fighting back after years of disruption from speeding vehicles and large lorries through their historic hamlet.

Friends of Woolley was set up seven years ago with the aim to conserve and enhance the area and its members are calling on Wiltshire Council to introduce appropriate signage and speed limits for the conservation area.

Residents’ patience wore thin last week when a six wheeler delivery lorry from Tamworth became stuck, due to the cars parked on the side of the street, and damaged two drainpipes and a flat roof when the driver tried to reverse.

Kevin Burnside, chair of Friends of Woolley, said: “Traffic is a real problem and residents are becoming frightened as their houses and doors back straight onto the carriageway.

“Not only do we have HGVs trying to get through, pedestrians also have to cross the road at blind corners and often encounter speeding rat runners. These lanes are simply not able to cope with trucks or volumes of traffic.

“Residents of both Woolley Street and Woolley Terrace have been trying to convince Wiltshire Council officials that something needs doing as a matter of urgency. We need the irresponsible 60mph limit on our narrow rural lanes reduced to 30mph and the narrow streets outside our houses reduced to a much safer 20mph.”

Shiena Bowen, 75, who has lived in her cottage for 12 years, had her drainpipe damaged by the lorry last week.

She said: “I am quite devastated by it because this is the second time my drainpipe has been damaged. It is not just the houses and cars in danger. It is the residents.

“The sat nav is telling people to use the road but there is nothing to suggest it is not suitable for large trucks. By uniting together, maybe we can get something done.”

To stop the trucks using Woolley Street residents are also urging the council to put maximum 6'6" warning sign at Woolley Green and Cemetery Lane.

They particularly want these measures introduced as they are concerned about the increase of drivers using the street as a rat run if the Kingston Farm development in Holt Road goes ahead.