It's accepted that some commercial vehicles have to pass through our lanes, especially those carrying essential supplies (Greene King Brewery truck)! but as I walked along the road just south of Baughurst House I came across a number of tree branches that had fallen into the road. As I (and Amber, our Airedale Terrier) started the clear the debris from the road I heard a truck trundling toward us from around the bend.

Getting the inclination that the truck seems to be travelling a little fast, I said to Amber: "Time to get out the way." A sudden screech of brakes and the truck came to a sharp stop. I carry on trying to move the branches. The truck mounts the grass verge and the driver and his assistant look at me as if I'm some sort of 'do-gooder'.

The blue arrow denotes the edge of the highway, the red arrow shows just how far off road the driver was prepared to take his vehicle...

Within seconds I realise that the truck is going to lose all traction and become stuck, so I shouted to the driver: "I would back up if I was you; your front wheel is sinking." But he keeps coming, and guess what? The truck became truly stuck. Back and forward the truck manoeuvred slowly sliding further off the road surface towards the ditch. "Things are getting worse I suggest to the driver, in fact I don't know if you realise but your outside rear wheels are now off the ground and I think you are about to tip over. The driver and his companion jump out and have a look. "Ooops!" he says "that's bad" and has a look of panic (actually, the language he used could not be printed).

Well done the man from Greene King Brewery: another section of our rural verge is destroyed as a result of impatience and inappropriate speed.

The story doesn't end here. Along comes the truck from Brakes Brothers; he wont get through because there's a truck blocking the road around the corner and there's nowhere to turn around. He tries to back up and turn around.

Well, his SatNav system which had probably brought him along our rural route looking for Sanford Springs certainly did not assist him in reversing his 12 ton truck backwards! As his truck snaked back along the road gouging chucks out of the verge, he also nearly became stuck in the verge further along the road

Just to finish; on the way back down the road I have a chat with the Gentleman living at number one Baughurst Cottages and he tells me about the artic truck which last week collided with the Oak Tree just past their driveway!!

Somehow we have to get the message across to drivers that they have left the main route and are travelling along a narrow rural road.

SLOW DOWN: THINK PEDESTRANS - THINK HORSES - THINK COMMUNITY.