The

Hilderstone Website

Hilderstone Action for Limiting Traffic

Hilderstone is a pleasant village. We all want it to be a safe environment for all who live here or visit us. Unfortunately the recent proliferation of heavy vehicles using the village is endangering lives and property in Hilderstone.  A body of public spirited villagers has recently set up HALT (Hilderstone Action for Limiting Traffic) to take steps to prevent the damage which will inevitably result. The Hilderstone Village Website is happy to support this action and is pleased to publish a recent press release from Harry Titley, Chairman of HALT.  Please do all you can to support HALT and safeguard our village and its inhabitants.

Unfortunately accidents continue to happen in the village. Below you can see the result of a recent accident. Please help us to prevent even more serious accidents taking place.  Limitations must be placed on traffic through Hilderstone.

A Message from Ron Taylor, Chairman of H.A.L.T.

As a result of pressure brought by HALT vehicle speed activated signs have been installed at the southern approach to the village and other agreed speed calming measures taken.

It is understood that a solution to limit Heavy Goods Vehicles through Hilderstone is high on the County Traffic Department’s agenda. HALT does not accept the delay in carrying this out as Heavy Goods Vehicles continue to hit listed buildings and provide regular near-miss encounters. This issue was, amongst all, raised by every road-side villager at the December consultation meeting and HALT is pressing for more urgent attention by the County. A follow-up meeting was held with our then Member of Parliament, Bill Cash; he was supportive of our continuing aims and provided us with a fairly non-committed response from the County Council in later correspondence.

HALT will be vigorously pursuing a Traffic Regulation Order on grounds of “avoiding danger to persons or other traffic...” and “for preventing damage to any building on or near the road”; also for preventing “vehicular traffic which is unsuitable having regard to the existing character of the road or of adjoining property”. These quotes are from Section 1 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. It is our contention that there are adequate and more suitable A roads north, south, east and west of the B5066 and Heavy Goods Vehicles should be routed accordingly. We are mindful of the possible M6 expressway being built, increasing Heavy Goods Vehicle aggregate traffic to/from the Moorlands quarries and the possible growth of Blythe Business Park in Cresswell.

HALT has contacted “English Heritage” and “The Council for the Protection of the Rural Environment” (CPRE) regarding their views on the damage to Listed Buildings and the effects the Heavy Commercial vehicles’ routings through Hilderstone are having on village life.

Ron Taylor