Wiggenhall St Germans resident worried after artic lorry damages his home for reported 14th time

A village resident is worried for his neighbours’ safety after a passing lorry took a chunk out of his house.

Frank Bridgman (66), who lives on Fitton Road in Wiggenhall St Germans, was left frustrated after the articulated lorry struck his home on the morning of September 28.

He says it is the 14th time he has been affected by HGVs since moving to the area 22 years ago, while his neighbours’ walls have also been damaged in recent weeks.

Norfolk Police confirmed reports of a single vehicle collision involving a lorry, with no injuries occurring - but Mr Bridgman is concerned that may not be the case in the future.

He said: “We have an issue in the village with artic lorries and tractors and trailers demolishing, and I’m not exaggerating, demolishing the village.

“He came round the corner too fast, bad driving, and he literally rammed the house. We’re not talking a couple of bricks.

“They come down here and they vibrate, and the ceilings crack and things like that.

“Nothing seems to be getting done about it until someone gets killed.”

Mr Bridgman says he has tried going to police and Norfolk County Council’s highways team, but has had no luck in tackling the issue.

Fitton Road being narrow with tight corners, he admits, contributes to the problem - but he insist bad driving is at the forefront in most cases.

Companies which own the lorries involved vary.

Mr Bridgman is now looking for quotes to fix the damage to his home, which he says will cost thousands of pounds.

His troubles were compounded when the driver of the artic lorry last week originally refused to stop.

“I had to chase him, and then get the police in and deal with it that way,” he added.

“He apolo-gised, that’s what you do, he’s had to put his hands up.

“I said ‘why couldn’t you stop’, he said ‘I couldn’t stop, I had to stop on the way back’.

“If he could have stopped on the way back he could have stopped on the way out.”

A county council spokesman said: “Norfolk County Council are aware of these issues and encourages people to take great care when navigating narrow roads.”

Mr Bridgman said that one of his neighbours, Mark Wright, has also raised concerns after his wall was damaged by a passing vehicle.

He has also heard of Eau Brink Road being affected.