A lorry driver has been fined by Wiltshire Police for careless driving after blocking a lane near Winsley with a portable building that fell off the back of his vehicle.

The portable cabin fell off the lorry on the narrow Ashley Lane, blocking the road between the A363 and Ashley Lane crossroads on Wednesday (August 17).

It is believed the HGV driver was using a SatNav to follow a diversion route from work on the B3108 Winsley Road to create a new shared path and cycleway.

Local residents took photos of the crash scene and the lane completely blocked. It was closed for up to eight hours while a crane was dispatched to clear the fallen load.

Meanwhile, the HGV itself remained wedged in the single-track country lane for hours, according to locals who watched the incident unfold.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called shortly before 1pm yesterday (August 18) to Ashley Lane in Bradford on Avon to an RTC after a lorry collided with a wall, causing the portacabin it was carrying to fall into the road.

“Road closures were put in place and the lorry and its load were recovered. The road was reopened at around 9pm. A man in his 30s received a fixed penalty notice for careless driving.”

Locals claim the accident is the latest in a series of incidents during the traffic chaos that has ensued since the main B3018 road between Bath and Bradford on Avon was closed on July 25 for the six-week work programme.

Wiltshire Council is creating a new shared path and cycleway to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists using the route.

Locals report having seen many seen HGVs breaching weight limits and squeezing along narrow country lanes in Ashley and Turleigh, while using them as a diversion around the B3108 Winsley Road closure.

Police have been active in booking drivers who flout the weight limits despite signage telling them the lanes are not suitable diversionary routes.

Signage has been strengthened and policy activity has increased because of the large number of drivers ignoring the signs.

Drivers travelling from Winsley to Bradford-on-Avon and Trowbridge are being urged to use the A36 and the A366 Farleigh Hungerford road.

A resident said: “It only takes a few minutes longer and avoids the risk of getting stuck in unsuitable rural lanes.

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