North Lincolnshire village HGV traffic review launched as police deem it 'unsafe'

North Lincolnshire Council has launched a review into industrial traffic flows in and around Goxhill, after police deemed it “unsafe”.

Traffic in the South End of Goxhill has been a problem for a number of years, as reported previously by Grimsby Live. The council leader has said an “innovative solution” is required to meet Goxhill’s unique traffic challenges.

Villagers were invited to a community conversation in the Memorial Hall in late January. Residents from across the area met with council officers and members to discuss their suggestions to lessen the impact of HGVs from nearby industrial and agricultural sites. Humberside Police also attended.

Nothing has yet been decided on what measures will be taken to tackle Goxhill’s HGVs on single or tight country lanes issue. A trial of a one-way system in South End for over 7.5 tonne vehicles is an option under consideration.

The invite letter to the event held in January stated traffic in South End, Goxhill, had been difficult for years. “This is particularly so when bulk materials are moved from the Immingham Port Complex to warehousing on Goxhill Airfield.

“These problems have been recently referred to Humberside Police who have attended the site and concluded that during busy periods traffic conditions have become unsafe.” The council, as the highways authority, have the duty to respond to safety concerns raised by the police.

North Lincolnshire Council had worked with the police to identify alternative routes. “However, experience tells us that making changes in one part of a settlement is likely to have impacts in other parts of the settlement,” the letter acknowledges.

Post-it notes cover a map at the community conversation meeting in Goxhill in late January

Council officers at the Memorial Hall meeting outlined options to residents, with maps becoming covered with post-it notes. North Lincolnshire Council leader Cllr Rob Waltham said: “The challenges are quite unique and will require an innovative solution which works for everyone.

“Safety for residents and motorists is vital but we need to ensure whatever the solution is does not have a detrimental impact elsewhere – both on the road network and other peoples’ lives. We spoke to residents and its clear the community is engaged in working together to develop a solution – they were very constructive conversations and council officers have taken away the thoughts and views of the many people who attended the latest meeting.

“There are no firm proposals yet but we will continue to work with the community.” Goxhill Parish Council were briefed by a North Lincolnshire Council officer in an extraordinary meeting at the beginning of December. The officer had previously met with concerned South End residents.

A lorry in Ferry Road, Goxhill, in early February while a bus heads the other way – the bus had to briefly mount the kerb to get past

She informed the parish councillors that the police proposed to make South End one way. She had looked into this and proposed a counter-suggestion – a temporary order to prevent vehicles in excess of 7.5 tonnes travelling through South End from Chapelfield Road to Soff Lane junction. Ferry Road could be widened if this was successful, with a three month review to decide if it was permanent. Humberside Police had agreed to this.

But a community consultation is necessary before any such pilot. The parish council pointed out a 2007 consultation, where 110 out of 118 respondents said no to a one-way system. The possibility of simply moving the problem onto Thornton Road was also raised.

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The North Lincolnshire Council officer assured them of consultation first before any pilot. The pilot would last up to three months, but could be scrapped after two weeks if it was not working.

Back in February 2022, South End residents reported that as many as up to 50 HGVs could travel down the road at peak times. And HGVs could get temporarily stuck on the narrow road. The speed limit had previously been dropped from 60 to 30mph to try to mitigate the issue.