For months, folks in a small village in Somerset have been dealing with unexpected chaos due to a mapping mistake. Lullington, famous for its quiet one-way streets and historic buildings, has accidentally turned into a route for heavy trucks because Google Maps wrongly shows it as the quickest way to Frome.
Since July, the number of trucks has created serious issues: narrow roads are blocked, bridges and stone walls are damaged, and many drivers have to make risky moves to escape the trap set by their GPS.
The assembly chairman, Gus Colquhoun, points out that the problem is made worse because the village’s main road is single-lane. “Once a truck gets in, there’s no way to turn around. It has to back up a long way, which can cause damage and creates chaos,” he says.
According to the Daily Mail, the village bridge has been destroyed twice this year, and residents worry about their traditional homes. Nicola Hall mentions that even thatched roofs are at risk from passing vehicles. “Repairs cost thousands of pounds and no one takes responsibility,” she adds.
Tanya Barefield shares similar stories, saying that almost every week a truck gets stuck in the village. In one case, it took an hour and a half to get it free, and her car was damaged. “Drivers don’t know the area; they just trust the GPS,” she explains.
New signs recently put up, like “don’t trust the sat nav” and “no large trucks allowed,” seem to be slowly improving things.
