Warning on Sat-Nav Threat to Ancient Sites

By Miles Davis; Helen Collis

Satellite navigation systems are posing a threat to ancient bridges, roads and buildings in the Westcountry as increasing numbers of drivers are directed to use lanes and country roads not designed for heavy vehicles.

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has spoken out about the physical damage caused by the increasing reliance on technology.

The Westcountry has seen numerous examples of drivers of large vehicles becoming stuck while taking inappropriate routes on the advice of their satellite navigation systems.

Phillip Venning, secretary of SPAB, said: "Blind reliance on satellite navigation is fast becoming a serious issue for old buildings as motorists are directed to use ancient lanes and narrow country roads that might even have posed a problem for horse-drawn carriages.

"The result is thousands of pounds of damage to historic structures which have, until recently, stood the test of time."

A Belgian lorry driver was given a conditional discharge by Bodmin magistrates in September 2006 after his vehicle demolished part of an historic Cornish bridge.

Lieven Fonteyne from Roeslare in Belgium had been directed along the lane leading to the 16th-century Respryn Bridge near Bodmin by the satellite navigation system in his 44-tonne articulated lorry, and had missed a final warning sign advising of the width and weight restriction in force there.

Last November a Czech lorry became stuck in hedgerows for three days in Langbrook, near Ivybridge in South Devon after the driver was led off course by his satellite navigation system. His HGV became tightly wedged.

And people living in Poundsgate on Dartmoor say that there are increasing numbers of people getting stuck on New Bridge, made famous in 1967 when the Beatles and their Magical Mystery Tour coach became trapped on it. Elsewhere there are reports of damage to the Roman foundations at Pevensey Castle in East Sussex following an increase in the number of lorries being guided along the nearby B2191 by satellite navigation technology.

Ordnance Survey produces digital road data to support applications for routing and navigation to asset management.

A statement says: "If you are a haulier you have greater need for information on road weight, width and height restrictions than an occasional weekend leisure user.

"This road restriction information is something Ordnance Survey has offered customers of its road network data since October 2006."

Ordnance Survey believes the best way to avoid unwanted heavy trucks rumbling through small villages is to see separate passenger car and commercial vehicle sat-navs.

The group is pleased that the Freight Transport Association has called for the industry to adopt an appropriate sat-nav to deal with this issue.

Similarly, the Department for Transport Best Practice Guide advocates the benefits of specialist HGV sat-navs.

(c) 2008 Western Morning News, The Plymouth (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.