FED-UP residents are calling for action against lorries being driven up their road.

Lorry drivers who use Church Road, in Benfleet, commonly known as Church Hill, are ignoring the 7.5 tonne weight limit.

It is believed about 100 HGVs a week drive down the road from St Peter’s Church to Robert Drake Primary School.

Liane Conners, 38, of Church Road, Thundersley said: “The weight limit is 7.5 tonnes. We chased it up with the council, who referred us to highways who said it was a matter for the police, but we still aren’t sure.

“We live on the hill and lorries way over the weight limit are going up it. There are accidents with people speeding round the hill.

“We’ve lived here for four years now and there have been three accidents.

“The biggest issue is our house has previously subsided and it is not helping.

The church is subsiding as well.

“They are breaking the law. There is a 7.5 tonne weight limit for a reason.

More than 100 go up and down the hill a week, easily.

“They get stuck going up the hill and the road is so narrow they mount the pavement.

We need someone to take responsibility and the weight limit needs to be enforced.”

Residents concerned about their homes subsiding have been left with nowhere to turn, after struggling to find the authority responsible and are also worried about speeding motorists.

Bill Dick, ward councillor for St Peter’s, said: “It’s the police that should enforce it, it is a traffic offence. I’ve been trying to enforce this for years. There are lots of lorries going up the hill and there are signs clearly stating it is a 7.5 tonnes weight limit. The signs have been there for as long as I can remember.”

But Godfrey Isaacs, Castle Point councillor for neighbourhoods and safer communities, said it is an Essex Highways issue.

He said: “It’s a highways matter, the police cannot enforce it.

“The problem is there are no clear signs at the bottom of the hill and the ones near Manor Road do not look official.

If there is a weight restriction it’s not a police matter. If it was, is it really a good use of police time to have one stand at the hill for maybe one or two enforcement actions?”

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “Essex Trading Standards and Essex Police can both enforce weight restrictions.

“Essex Highways has recommended a review of weight restriction signs in this area, since there has been some development since they were first installed.”