RESIDENTS in Barnoldswick are fed up of feeling their foundations shake as heavy lorries ignore a weight restriction to access a factory in the town.

Homeowners from Penyghent Way, on the town's Monkroyd estate, told local councillors that 45-ton HGVs were driving past a 7.5 ton weight restriction sign then putting lives at risk through a tricky manoeuvre to reverse into the yard at Carlson Filtration's Butts Mill site.

Richard Gilbert, of Penyghent Way, told Pendle Council's West Craven committee that articulated lorries were regularly driven along Calf Hall Road and onto Monkroyd Avenue, ignoring the weight restriction at the edge of the housing estate.

They would then turn partially into Penyghent way in order to reverse across Monkroyd Avenue, completely blocking it, as they tried to reverse through the factory gates.

"These are 60-feet-long, 45-ton articulated lorries driving a good hundred yards past the sign. The drivers often need several attempts to get in," said Mr Gilbert.

Another resident, Nick Goddard, said there was ample room for the lorries to enter the yard, turn round and leave at the front of the factory on The Butts, and there was no need to come onto the estate to enter through the rear gates.

He added that the owner of the end property on Penyghent Way had had his garden wall demolished by lorries three times and feared there would be permanent damage to the foundations of his home. Serious concerns were also expressed for the safety of local children who often play in the residential area.

Another Penyghent Way resident, Mr Baldwin, said he had worked in transport for 30 years and that the big lorries were only delivering part of their load to the site as part of a series of deliveries.

He said there was no need for it and that the big HGVs should unload at a central depot and smaller vehicles be used for the individual drops.

Coun Mary Norcross described the current situation as "an accident waiting to happen", adding that the residents were up in arms about it.

But PC Bryan Pepper said he had looked into the situation in the past and his understanding was that the lorries were permitted to use the factory gates off Monkroyd Avenue.

He said the weight restriction was there to stop lorries driving through the estate.

However, the access could be considerably improved to make it easier for lorry drivers to use.

Coun David Whipp said he recalled that parking restrictions had been put on The Butts to keep it clear for lorries to access the factory from that end, rather than using the Monkroyd access.

He called for a full report on the issue to come to the committee's next meeting, and hoped that in the meantime a constructive meeting could be arranged between all parties to look at how to resolve it.

Our picture, taken by one of the residents, shows an articulated lorry driving onto the estate to use the access off Monkroyd Avenue.