'Disaster': Our tiny village is overrun with lorries after Google Maps changed and said it was a short-cut

Historic bridges, walls and Grade II homes in Lulligton have been damaged since trucks started driving through en route to nearby Frome. Residents say the issue started in July when Google Maps started suggesting the Somerset village as a preferred route to the town.

Since then it has been flooded and 'bombarded' with lorries trying to get to and from a local creamery. But all roads in and out are single track lanes - so many have to reverse back out and find another way.

Locals say their properties, cars and even Grade II listed walls have been damaged by the commotion. They have now felt forced to do put signage up as you get into the village saying 'no access of turning for HGVs' and 'do not follow sat nav'.

Chair of Lullington Parish Meeting Gus Colquhoun, 65, said: "We didn't really had too much of a problem in the past but something changed on Google Maps that has started to direct people down through this way.

"The trouble is that it is a single track road so if a lorry comes down there is nowhere to go - they can't turn around and they can't go back up. They have to back up all the way up through the village with a huge truck - and it is a disaster."

Videos and pictures shared by locals show lorries getting stuck in the narrow lanes and trying to reverse back to the road. There is a main road to get to the creamery (B3090), but Sat Navs are instead advising drivers to take a ''shortcut'' through the village's single track road, locals say.

The bridge at Lullington has also been damaged by the lorries twice this year, said Mr Colquhoun. He added that the parish council had to put the signage up last week because the council "did nothing".

He added: "It is not the fault of the lorry drivers because they are just following their sat nav. It is the fact that the council have done nothing about it," he said. “The problem is that all of the roads in and out of the village are single track lanes so there's no passing places and there is certainly no way for a lorry that size to get through."

Resident of 45 years Nicola Hall, 74, retired said what was once a quiet village has now become affected by an influx of traffic - including lorries. She said: "It is very random when it happens so you never know when they are going to come. But we are all worried about our properties.

"There is a thatch property that when a lorry comes along it actually can impact on the thatch - and it costs thousands. It happens under darkness, especially this time of the year and there is no responsibility.

She added: "The bridge is absolute mince meat now. I don't feel that either the lorry company or Google Maps take responsibility. They should. It is because of them that this is happening. It is strange with Google Maps, why would it take someone through a village? It is a bit shorter but it is a less suitable road."

Tanja Barefield, 50, nurse, said on a weekly basis a lorry would get stuck in the village. She said to often help lorries find their way out of the village - with one lorry once taking about one hour and a half to get out.

She said her husband's car once got damaged by a lorry. She said: "Both me and my husband work from home so it's been quite time consuming because you have to go out and move your cars, then try to redirect them and get them back on the road. It is not their fault because they obviously don't know the area so they have been directed to this village through Google Maps.

“It is a very quiet village. People don't drive through without a reason. And they come from like Bath or Bristol. So I don't know why they have started to come in here. I think it's literally because of Google Maps. It is only natural that you just follow the sat nav. It's horrible for them because when you get stuck if you accidentally just drive into a village you just can't get out."

Residents have said lorries have not been coming into the village since the signage alerting HGVs was put up last week. Mr Colquhoun said they have been put in touch with the owners of the lorry company who admitted it's their fault and are looking to repair the damaged walls.

Another local said: ''It seems like Google Maps has made us a short cut - and it's created all kind of chaos and damage''.

A representative for Somerset Council told a local paper: "Somerset Council has been working collaboratively with Lullington Parish Council to address the inappropriate use of local roads by vehicles accessing nearby businesses.

"The route currently being used is not designated as part of the strategic road network, and it is believed that satellite navigation systems are a key factor in directing traffic through the Parish.

"To help mitigate this issue, additional positive lorry route signage will be installed in the coming weeks to guide drivers more appropriately. It is hoped that this measure will prove effective in reducing unsuitable vehicle movements through the area."