A warning sign has been put up in a bid to tackle the lorry parking problem affecting people living in South Willesborough.

The sign has been installed at the end of Canterbury Road, South Willesborough, warning truckers against driving down the residential street.

But it has taken more than four years of letters, emails and phone calls from crusading pensioner Margaret Pryke, Cllr David Smith (Ind) and Ashford MP Damian Green to get road bosses to take action.

Mrs Pryke lives in Canterbury Road and has been calling for the sign as lorries driving up Orbital Park’s Monument Way sometimes turn right into Canterbury Road and either park or realise they are in a residential street and attempt to turn, often causing damage to the pavement.

Mrs Prkye is glad road bosses are finally taking action. She said: “Hopefully things will be a little quieter, expecially at night.”

“However, it’s not the sign we were promised.

“We’ll wait and see if lorry drivers take notice of it but I’ve not closed the file.”

Mrs Pryke wanted road bosses to go further and install a larger sign and another in Orbital Park directing lorries away from South Willeborough. A sign has been installed directing drivers around the roundabout but it does not refer to HGVs.

Cllr Smith is now calling for a sign to be installed in Fairview Drive, the left turn at the end of Monument Way.

Mrs Pryke’s campaign to stop trucks parking at Orbital Park continues. She is calling for a ban on lorries to be parked in Long Barrow and action from the police after they suggested making changes to the roads at Orbital Park.

She said: “We’re still waiting to hear from the police on the plans for clamping and double yellows and making it one-way.”

The lorry count in Orbital Park continues to be high, usually peaking on Sunday mornings. 75 trucks were counted on Sunday .

Rt Hon Damian Green MP, who was there, said: “Every Road had lorries parked on both sides, and for two cars to pass each other is extremely dangerous.

“The sign will make some difference, and is a small step forward, but it is clear that a long-term solution is needed which takes parked lorries elsewhere.

“This is why I will continue the battle for a lorry park as close to Dover as possible, which is the best place for the trucks.”