TRO HGV Sutton Bank

The A170 at Sutton Bank is not fit for purpose in regard to loaded HGV trucks ascending this 25% grade with hairpin bend. Blockages to Sutton Bank continue to be an almost daily occurance as a result of HGVs failing to ascend the bank.  This situation then creates a dangerous situation with vehicles then overtaking the blockage against oncoming traffic. This will eventually result in a serious accident. The police who attend many but not all of these incidents, can take several hours to clear.  There have been many occasions when the police are not made aware of the blockage and then we have HGV trucks reversing back down the bank around bends and up to 1 mile against oncoming traffic along the A170 as the HGV drivers seek somewhere to turn around to retrace their steps and seek another route.

A critical petition, as Sutton Bank is blocked by HGVs having to reverse back down, almost on a daily basis, preventing others going about their lawful business, and subjecting car-drivers to a pretty terrifying experience if you happen to be stuck behind a lorry reversing down a 1-in-4 gradient for a mile or so, with little hope of overtaking into on-coming traffic!  Furthermore, it forces traffic to divert off the blocked A170, and onto alternative routes, such as via Boltby Bank, 3 miles to the north of Sutton Bank, which is the same gradient, but single carriageway, with a similar, but blind, double hairpin bend at the top, and through the village of Boltby on narrow, country roads which are not designed to take that volume of traffic; and which has recently been designated as a major cycle route through the NYM National Park, causing an extra hazard for road vehicles!

This Alpine-like stretch of road takes many drivers by surprise, especially those relying on sat-navs. Like caravans heavy vehicles and articulated lorries should be banned on the grounds of public safety. Better signage indicating the hazard, and the restriction, is needed, at points BEFORE drivers find themselves committed ie north of the A172 and south of the A64.

As a truck driver over the years I have seen the problems and it needs to stop. My ex. bosses used to tell me to use it as it saves a lot of time.(not if you get stuck).I no longer use it in an HGV.It also keeps the police and other services from doning their job for hours costing the forces a lot of money,maybe a heavy fine to the comany and driver would change things.As has already been said it is an incedent waiting to happen.

I have lived at the bottom of Sutton Bank my whole life and heavy HGVs have often blocked the bank and as a result blocked access to my property.

A turning area at the bottom of the Bank would alleviate some of the problems and would allow HGV drivers to reconsider their route when they actually see what is ahead of them rather than, as happens now, having no choice but to try to climb because there is no where to turn around.

There are very few roads like this one on the country, hence why drivers are often ill prepared for its challenges. Please take measures to ensure the saftey of other road users and residents of the nearby village.