A COUNTY councillor has arranged a meeting with a company to address residents’ concerns its lorries are causing “huge damage” to country roads north-east of Bury St Edmunds.

County councillor Joanna Spicer said she had invited Enviro-Waste to a meeting at the end of next week which would also be attended by county council officers and representatives of the parish councils.

Residents claim Enviro-Waste tankers have left roads in the areas of Bardwell, Bowbeck, Honington and Saphiston littered with potholes and have caused the road edges to break up.

David Tomlinson, a Bowbeck resident, wants the firm to pay for the repairworks.

“I think probably the main point that makes us cross is our roads are being destroyed and Suffolk County Council is having to pick up the bill and it’s not Suffolk County Council’s fault.”

Mr Tomlinson said the problem had been going on since November.

He said the tankers travelled from Thetford along the A1088 and through the villages on their way to Euston Estate.

He said he accepted the firm performed a valuable service transporting and disposing of liquid waste, and the waste had to go somewhere, but he did not believe its vehicles were suitable for these country roads.

Mrs Spicer, who represents Blackbourn, said she was “anxious” to seek a resolution, adding she wanted next week’s meeting to be constructive.

She said: “The main things are to look at the routes, to look at the weights of the lorries, the routes they go in and out, have a decent communications plan for the future and then they are going to discuss with our officers the cost of putting things right.”

She said the county council would not be demanding the company pays, but it would be discussed, adding legally it had no responsibly to pay for the damage.

“In my view there’s nothing illegal in what they are doing,” she said.

She said any form of lorry ban “is not appropriate” and weight restrictions were “really difficult to enforce”. She added she would be asking the firm to use smaller vehicles.

“The residents live in the country. This is a country business. it’s taking muck, our muck, and putting it on fields to grow.”

Enviro-Waste was unavailable for comment.

SPACE FOR INSET PIC