Google Maps blunder turns tiny village into shortcut route, inflicting it to be ‘bombarded’ by lorries which can be damaging individuals’s Grade II-listed properties
Villagers have been ‘bombarded’ with lorries after a Google Maps blunder turned their slice of countryside into a ‘shortcut’.
Historic bridges, walls, Grade II homes and even cars in Lulligton have been damaged ever since lorries started driving through to reach nearby Frome.
The chaos started in July, according to locals, after Google Maps began suggesting their tiny Somerset village as a preferred route to the town instead of the main road.
And ever since, they have been ‘bombarded’ with lorries trying to get to and from the local creamery, sparking chaos and damage on the single-track lanes.
Signs warning drivers that there is ‘no access for turning HGVs’ and urging them not to ‘follow [their] sat nav[s]’ have also started to emerge.
Videos and pictures shared by locals show some lorries even getting stuck in the narrow lanes and trying to reverse backwards in a bid to escape the country lanes.
Gus Colquhoun, the chair of Lullington Parish Meeting, explained there had not been ‘too much’ of a problem in the past until Google began directing drivers their way.
‘The trouble is that it is a single-track road, so if a lorry comes down, there is nowhere to go – they can’t turn around, and they can’t go back up,’
‘They have to back all the way up through the village with a huge truck – and it is a disaster.’
(Pictured: Local Tonja Barefield) Villagers have been ‘bombarded’ with lorries after a Google Maps blunder turned their slice of countryside into a ‘shortcut’
Historic bridges, walls, Grade II homes and even cars in Lulligton have been damaged ever since lorries started driving through to reach nearby Frome
The local parish council have put up signs to warn HGV drivers from driving through the village
An aerial view of the homes in Lullington, Somerset., where lorries are wreaking havoc
The bridge in Lullington has been damaged twice so far this year by lorries, Mr Colquhoun explained.
‘It is not the fault of the lorry drivers because they are just following their sat nav,’ he said. ‘It is the fact that the council have done nothing about it.’
‘All of the roads in and out of the village are single-track lanes, so there’s no passing places, and there is certainly no way for a lorry that size to get through.’
Nicola Hall, who has lived in the village for 45 years, the blunder was ‘random’ and locals were left ‘worrying’ about their properties.
‘There is a thatch property that when a lorry comes along, it actually can impact on the thatch – and it costs thousands,’ the 74-year-old said.
‘It happens under darkness, especially this time of the year, and there is no responsibility.
She added: ‘The bridge is absolute mince meat now. I don’t feel that either the lorry company or Google Maps take responsibility.
‘They should. It is because of them that this is happening.’
Meanwhile, Tanja Barefield revealed a lorry would get stuck in the village on a weekly basis – with one taking an hour and a half to get unstuck.
Gus Colquhoun (pictured) , the chair of Lullington Parish Meeting, explained there had not been ‘too much’ of a problem in the past until Google began directing drivers their way
The chaos started in July, according to locals, after Google Maps began suggesting their tiny Somerset village as a preferred route to the town instead of the main road
The bridge in Lullington has been damaged twice so far this year by lorries, Mr Colquhoun explained
Nicola Hall, who has lived in the village for 45 years, the blunder was ‘random’ and locals were left ‘worrying’ about their properties
A car belonging to the 50-year-old nurse’s husband was also damaged by a lorry amid the chaos.
‘Both me and my husband work from home so it’s been quite time consuming because you have to go out and move your cars,’ she said.
‘It is not their fault because they obviously don’t know the area so they have been directed to this village through Google Maps.’
Adding how it was once a ‘quiet’ village, she divulged that lorries sometimes have come from as far afield as Bath or Bristol.
‘It is only natural that you just follow the sat nav. It’s horrible for them because when you get stuck if you accidentally just drive into a village you just can’t get out.’
Residents have said lorries have not been coming into the village since the signage alerting HGVs was put up last week.
Mr Colquhoun said they have been put in touch with the owners of the lorry company who admitted it’s their fault and are looking to repair the damaged walls.
Another local said: ‘It seems like Google Maps has made us a short cut – and it’s created all kind of chaos and damage’.
A Somerset Council spokesperson said: ‘Somerset Council has been working collaboratively with Lullington Parish Council to address the inappropriate use of local roads by vehicles accessing nearby businesses.
‘The route currently being used is not designated as part of the strategic road network, and it is believed that satellite navigation systems are a key factor in directing traffic through the Parish.
‘To help mitigate this issue, additional positive lorry route signage will be installed in the coming weeks to guide drivers more appropriately.
‘It is hoped that this measure will prove effective in reducing unsuitable vehicle movements through the area.’
The Daily Mail has approached Google for comment.
