Drivers of heavy goods vehicles have been warned they could be banned from travelling through a popular area in the South East of England after a landmark petition has sparked action.
East Sussex County Council explained that it is currently looking at plans to ban HGVs across Bexhill High Street as vehicles continue to breach the current weight restrictions.
The need for the ban follows a petition which has already gathered hundreds of signatures from angry residents calling for action.
The petition has prompted a response from the council, which will discuss whether a total ban would be needed.
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The petition called on East Sussex County Council to introduce a road ban for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes
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Earlier this week, Councillor Claire Dowling, lead member for transport, said the authority would be considering the petition and its outcome.
The petition was launched by Sandra Bandirali, who called on the council to protect the "picturesque buildings" and rich history of the high street from HGVs using it to travel across England.
The petition stated: "The historic listed buildings are an important part of many people who live in Bexhill, and stand as an irreplaceable part of our heritage, which we must protect.
"These cultural landmarks are under threat. Large vehicles, breaching the established maximum weight limit of 7.5 tonnes, routinely use the High Street, and the buildings don’t have foundations, so the structure of these buildings is being threatened."
She warned that immediate enforcement of the weight limit would be key to the buildings' protection, with there being "great concern" over the lack of regulation by the council.
A recently released report from council officers explained that "any potential scheme is unlikely to take place until the end of the year".
Despite recommending that the scheme should be "fully assessed" by the council, the report also warned of several challenges and limitations surrounding the introduction of the ban.
These include being able to ensure that emergency service vehicles alongside "legitimate" HGV vehicles can still access the route.
The petition added: "We need for the council to act. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors highlights that consistent heavy traffic can cause detrimental damage to nearby historical structures.
"We need our local council covering this road in Bexhill to prioritise this issue and take active measures to prevent the misuse of the weight limit, including the revision of local traffic laws and road changes."
The petition also detailed a series of measures for the council to consider, which could still help protect the road. This included diverting buses away from the High Street as well as changing the layout of the road to make it harder for larger vehicles to use it.
The report stated that any redirection of bus routes "would have a substantial impact on passengers gaining access to Bexhill Hospital".
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The petition has received more than 500 signatures of support
GETTYIt added: "The County Council has a limited amount of funding to develop local transport improvements and needs to ensure that resources are allocated to those schemes which will be of the greatest benefit to local communities.
"While options will be fully explored, it is likely that any physical width restriction would have minimal effect on ‘through’ HGV traffic using the High Street."
