I have a regular drop in Wanstrow, an agricultural supplier just under a 13’ or so bridge.
The only suitable artic way in is (from Shepton Mallet end) down towards Castlecarey, and down a minor road through a village called Wyke Champflower and up through Bruton which has a 7 and a half tonne wt limit (except for access or with permit) …, and is narrow as ■■■■.
Anyway this morning I was stuck in that town centre while a tipper was servicing the road works. I sat behind it for 5 to 10 mins with engine off, window open (with a line of standing traffic behind)
People were walking past me and the dirty looks and abuse I got for being in their town with an artic was unreal …stuff like ‘‘You know you shouldn’t be here with that’’ and ‘‘You should be reported’’ and crap like that.
I was very polite, didn’t go off on one, and tried to explain (to a couple or so who would actually listen ) about my trailer height.
I set off, did not do the ‘‘Thundering juggernaut’’ thing , but went through very slowly, allowing pedestrians to cross.
At the top there was some scaffolding on the side of the building, there was a 4x4 coming up so I flashed him to come up. He got alongside me, stopped while looking daggers,.and said in a patronising way ‘‘Uh, and I suppose your sat nav brought you up here eh’’
Now that ■■■■■■ me off accusing me of being some thick knob jockey driver who relied entirely on a sat nav.
So I told him no and that I knew where I was going and said ‘‘Look mate my trailer is too high for the bridge, I know what I am doing here, get your ■■■■ car moved on, mind your own business, and go and ■■■■ yourself’’ …he just muttered something and went.
Just for good measure as I got to the end of the village this old dear was pointing at me and flapping her arms about like a windmill, she was either telling me I should not be there, or doing some kind of weird rural Morris dance ritual.
I double checked with the agri firm if there was a better way in/out, and they verified I came the correct and only suitable way.
Then I had to ‘‘run the gauntlet’’ back through again!
Now yeh, I can fully understand the locals being a bit ■■■■■■■ as tbf the town is unsuitable for artics, but wtf can you do?
Btw I rang our depot to expect some complaints, but I heard nothing from them.
Anybody else had the same there, or anywhere else?
I just point to the door. “Call that number if you have a complaint, go whine to my boss”. No point arguing with them, they will twist everything you say.
just grin at these nimby geeky types, most will be either ramblers, train spotters or save the ■■■■■■ planet cabbages, smiling will wind them up no end…
AndrewG:
just grin at these nimby geeky types, most will be either ramblers, train spotters or save the [zb] planet cabbages, smiling will wind them up no end…
I used to get grief going through a village up north years ago when I was working as a recovery driver. Usually driving a 32 ton 4 axle recovery wagon with what was called a dummy axle on it’s tail suspend towing another 32 tonner. Never got to measure total length but it was one long bugger. Looks I used to get from the locals was scary but end of the day mate, like you’re situation, what’s the alternative? Most of us aren’t stupid and would prefer a better route if there was one available.
These days, It don’t bother me, the job has enough stress involved as it is, I’m not going to add to that but I understand you’re frustration.
Ive had the same problem doing pet food/feed delivery in my rigid up that way, and also pick up from the mil at barrow gurney near Bristol. Ive had locals telling me I shouldn’t/couldn’t bring my truck up there but the mill is smack bang in the mid of the village,also I’ve got a massive feed advert on my curtains. Pretty obvious where I’m going,still doesn’t stop them whining.
Had this quite a lot doing multi drop in Aylesford. Would often see a group of pensioners with a few chairs set up with a eBay speed gun writing down the reg plates they always wrote mine down even though I wasn’t speeding. Nice little villages don’t like trucks.
You should practice the Clarkson smug face, nothing ■■■■■■ people off me.
One of our agency bods got lost on a detour off the A1. Poor bugger went through a 7.5 ton limit. The next day we got an email off Mr Chomley-Warner complaining about our juggernaut thundering through his village at 1am, complete with video evidence. He told us that since the village had many pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists, parked cars (the road is only 4.5 metres wide you know), a kids daycare nursery AND a school, it wasn’t suitable for lorries.
Captain Caveman 76:
One of our agency bods got lost on a detour off the A1. Poor bugger went through a 7.5 ton limit. The next day we got an email off Mr Chomley-Warner complaining about our juggernaut thundering through his village at 1am, complete with video evidence. He told us that since the village had many pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists, parked cars (the road is only 4.5 metres wide you know), a kids daycare nursery AND a school, it wasn’t suitable for lorries.
yeah loads of horse riders and mums dropping there kids off at 1 am…
Yup I find this is a very British way of behaving. In Ireland (and many European countries) you can be driving an artic through the smallest village known to man and no one bats an eyelid in UK it can be an A Road and some whiney old dear will moan
) about my trailer height.
