Almost 300 people signed a petition for a 7.5 tonne weight restriction in a Bucks village to stop lorry drivers using it as a “cut-through”.

Residents are calling for the limit to be introduced in Coleshill, near Amersham, saying it will “prevent HGVs using Coleshill village as a cut through when the main roads are congested.”

The petition added: “This is intended to make Coleshill village safer for residents, walkers and cyclists, and minimise damage to roads, verges, trees and property throughout the village.”

Members of the Amersham Community Board debated the petition at a meeting on February 18.

Jon Herbert, who started the petition, said: “There is now estimated to be in the region of 800 or so lorry movements a day down the A355 and also the A413.

“We’ve already got vehicles that we cannot tie down specifically to HS2’s compound but the same vehicles are seen in HS2 as are already cutting through the village.

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“HS2 haven’t even started cutting into the vent shafts yet, they’re just doing the enabling works, so if this is a sign of what’s to come, Coleshill will be a very, very popular rat run.”

He added: “When Gore Hill was closed HGVs were getting stuck and had nowhere to go. People were waiting for half an hour or so for the police to arrive.

“It was absolute mayhem for the village, and we have a lot of damage to verges and sides of roads.

“We are converting a nice, quiet village into a mess.”

Cllr Julia Burton, who lives in the village echoed Mr Herbert’s views, saying villagers were “fed up” with “having these huge lorries coming though”.

She said: “It’s making our life hell.

“It’s not just this village, it’s other people, even people who are visiting.

“It’s becoming impossible to move in Coleshill. We’re like an island here, there’s nowhere to move.”

When asked if a width restriction would work better than a weight limit, Mr Herbert said residents wanted to “try and avoid urbanising the village too much”.

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He said: “We do have quite a lot of agricultural vehicles… so that would cause a potential problem.”

It was also suggested that sat-nav systems on lorries be changed to reflect any changes in weight restrictions to allow lorry drivers to choose a different route.

The board agreed to pass the matter to its transport focus group in conjunction with Coleshill Parish Council, and have further discussions with transport officers.