A popular town has approved plans to ban HGVs from parking along roads across a major region in the East in a bid to reduce noise pollution.
Bury St Edmunds Town Council has revealed it will support a proposal to limit the hours HGVs over 7.5 tonnes can park on Moreton Hall roads.
The ban will see the larger vehicles unable to park between 10pm to 7am and comes after the council received numerous complaints from residents about heightened overnight noise.
The plan, which received backing from councillors, would see restrictions imposed along Orttewell Road between the Barton Road traffic lights and the Bedingfeld Way/Skyliner Way roundabout.
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New Traffic Orders are expected to come into place later this year
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Other regions include Mount Road from Orttewell Road to Sow Lane, as well as between Lady Miriam Way to the Skyliner Way/Rougham Tower Avenue roundabout and Primack Road and Drovers Avenue.
Councillor Richard O’Driscoll detailed how the town council is "fully behind the residents" in restricting the use of HGVs.
Commenting on the measures, Suffolk Highways shared: "It is hoped that a ban on overnight HGVs will significantly improve overnight noise pollution on the Moreton Hall estate.
"The reduction in HGV traffic movements will also help sustain the life of highway assets along."
The ban would aim to crack down on noise pollution produced by the larger vehicles
GETTYIt is estimated that the overnight ban will cost the council £42,300, with "sufficient funds" allocated to cover the cost.
Suffolk Highways has already begun conversations with statutory organisations, including the town council, with plans to consult local businesses next on the agenda to scope how it will impact them.
Meanwhile, the public will be given their chance to share their opinions on the ban as the council looks to introduce a formal consultation later this year.
Melanie Soanes, chair of the Moreton Hall Residents’ Association, told SuffolkNews: "As residents, the influx of large HGVs using the residential roads on Moreton Hall over the last few months, years has been unacceptable."
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She explained that the regional roads are not suitable for HGV routes with the larger vehicles predominantly accessing Suffolk Business Park and using Orttewell Road and other residential roads "as shortcuts at all times of the day, including night-time".
She warned that persistent noise pollution can cause several short and long-term health problems, and that due to the larger vehicles accessing the roads, it has caused infrastructure damage.
"Control measures and monitoring need to be put into place as a basic to protect the residential area, this is a residential area, not a commercial business park," Soanes added.
The proposed Traffic Order would have certain exemptions with HGVs exceeding 7.5 tonnes still able to load and unload overnight if required.
Under the plans, HGVs will be banned from parking on several roads between 10pm and 7am
GETTYHowever, the proposed ban has been met with mixed views from residents and drivers alike, with one person sharing on social media that the move would leave HGVs with "nowhere to go, as not so long ago they were critical workers".
Another person shared: "They'll soon complain again when there's no food on the shelves of the shops in that area that have multiple deliveries during their opening hours, which are before and after those timings for the ban!!"
Notably, someone else shared that they have lived next to a haulage yard which works nights for over 30 years and has never been woken up by HGV noise.
"I've learnt that the lorries DON'T WAKE me/you up, you are already waking up for whatever reason when you become aware of the lorries," they stated.
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