Additional road signs warning heavy lorries not to use Hambledon’s narrow lanes are to be erected by Surrey County Council at Milford and Lane End.

The “Unsuitable for HGVs” signs will be placed at the entrance to Station Lane at its junction with Church Road and on the Petworth Road facing traffic approaching from both directions.

The decision to erect the signs follows pressure from Hambledon Parish Council, reflecting the concern of residents that HGVs were using the village as a cut-through.

The majority travel from Milford and, faced with existing HGV signs (pictured) at the Hydestile Crossroads in the Godalming direction, attempt to use Salt Lane or Hambledon Road.

At a site visit, parish councillors told SCC engineers that the existing signs gave the impression that Salt Lane and Hambledon Road were wide enough for HGVs when, in reality, both were as narrow as in the Godalming direction.

SCC was presented with photographic evidence of lorries becoming stuck and having to reverse. The parish council argued it was too late to warn lorry drivers by the time they reached the village and that signs were needed to dissuade them from entering in the first place. Surrey County Council agreed and has placed an order for the work to be carried out. No date has been given for when the signs will be erected. The existing signs at the Hydestile Crossroads will remain.

The signs are advisory and cannot be lawfully enforced. It is thought that satellite navigation systems are often to blame for bringing HGV to the village when they have no business here.

The parish council is a member of the Lorries off Rural Detours pressure group (LORD)which is campaigning for tougher action to prevent the inappropriate use of narrow lanes by heavy goods vehicles.