Lorry Route to Food Park

LorryRouteFromThickthornClick to enlarge

There is a Lorry Route between Thickthorn roundabout (A11/A47) and the Little Melton Food Park on Little Melton Rd.  There is a weight restriction of 7.5 tonnes on Burnthouse Lane (north of LM Rd) and on Breymeadow that prevents HGVs from accessing the Food Park via the village.

The bends on Green Lane are impossible for an HGV to negotiate if there is oncoming traffic.  HGVs have become stuck whilst trying to turn left from School Lane onto Burnthouse at the mini roundabout.

Roundabout 2023 01 05 07 45Lorries have got stuck trying to turn left at the roundabout
The HGV route from Thickthorn is - 

  1. Take the B1172 exit towards Hethersett
  2. Take the first right turn (just at the start of Hethersett) onto Colney Lane
  3. After 300m turn left onto Harness Makers Way at the junction with traffic islands
  4. After 550m take the first right onto Burnthouse Lane
  5. After 600m turn left onto Little Melton Road
  6. The food park is 500m on the left

LMPC is requesting the following actions to improve the lorry route - 

  • Better signage for eastbound traffic on the A47 - the first sign is after the B1108 exit. 
    • Highways England have committed to provide this and have provided temporary signs on the slip road.
    • In 2024 , NCC provided additional signage on the B1108.
  • Many drivers are using Google Maps (GM) to navigate.  GM has no concept of a HGV and routes both eastbound and westbound traffic through LM, even though this is further for westbound traffic!  The PC has raised this with our MP, who in turn wrote to the Transport Minister to suggest that government needs to take action to ensure that sat navs take into account local restrictions.  Unfortunately, the Minister was not sympathetic - the PC will continue to pursue this as it is part of a wider problem.  When the A47 was closed for 3 days, GM ignored the official diversion and directed all the A47 down a rural single track lane! 
  • A camera on Burnhouse Lane that records infringements of the weight restriction


Existing signage

LorryRouteSignThickthornOne of the signs that shows the Lorry Route - this one is on the A47

ExceptForLoadingOne of the signs at the start of the restricted zone on Burnthouse Lane. HGV drivers, who are stopped in the weight restricted zone on Burtnhouse Lane, often give the excuse that they are 'loading' at the Food Park.   That is not what this sign means! Loading has to take place within the weight restriction zone in order for the HGV to be permitted to enter the zone.

The signs are all explained here.

Little Melton Parish Website