HGV drivers and locals fear another fatality if trees and hedges aren’t cut back
8th May
Forty HGVs parked in Battle Road in Punnetts Town this morning (Wednesday 8th May) to protest about the unsuitability of the diversion route that has been put in place by South East Water.

The protestors, whose vehicles included tipper lorries, low loaders, agricultural equipment and camper vans, are worried that because the hedges and overhanging trees have not been cut to the required minimum height of 5.1 metres on the diversion route, it is unsafe for them to drive.
Organiser and local business owner Andy Long said the protest was as a result of trying to get South East Water and Highways to listen to him for the last four months and being ignored.
Andy, also Chair of the local Parish Council, explains: “I went to all the meetings to try to get people to acknowledge that there was a problem with the diversion route but not a single branch or hedge has so far been cut. Nothing has been done to address the issue.”
It’s the first time Andy has organised any sort of protest and it was a last resort to get people to listen. He said he is hoping landowners might take note and cut down some of their overhanging trees and that everyone who uses the diversion route will take extra care.
Giving her voice to the protest is Jo Moir, the sister of Matt Moir,18, who was killed when a milk tanker was forced into the middle of the road by unmanaged vegetation.
Jo said: “The work is essential and needs to be done. The issue is that they are closing many of our roads in the area during this time. The proposed diversion route will be forcing these extremely large vehicles to use lanes that are not fit for large vehicles and will no doubt cause accidents to happen. In 2001 my brother lost his life after colliding with an oncoming milk tanker on the proposed diversion road. At my brother’s inquest it was put down to the overhanging trees and foliage which forces large vehicles to cross the centre line of the road and at risk to oncoming traffic on blind bends and blind bumps in the road. The coroner wrote to Highways to enforce the maintenance of these overhanging trees, but this still hasn’t been done despite highways being constantly reminded.
“Matt’s accident obviously completely devastated our family’s world. The tanker driver that my brother Matt collided with has to live with this awful consequence (which was absolutely no fault of his own and as a family we feel nothing but sympathy for him in this) of his job, so much so that he felt the need to quit his job.
“What needs to happen is the work being postponed until these diverted routes can be made safe for all road users and not put anyone in a vulnerable position while the essential work is carried out. Nobody wants to see another large vehicle driver go through such an awful event or for an innocent family lose a precious loved one.”
A campaign page has now been set up for people to voice their concerns.
For the HGV drivers, Andy says, it is extremely stressful to drive on narrow, overgrown roads. “You are literally praying that no one comes around the corner. No one wants to be the next tanker incident. This work needs doing and has to happen for everyone’s safety. We don’t want another death and it’s very disappointing that no one has learned a lesson after what happened to Matt.”
Andy said he organised the protest in consultation with Sussex Police, who sent three officers to help with traffic, and planned the event so it would not interfere with school traffic.
“We don’t want to stop the work as it needs doing but the diversion route needs addressing first. There will be further road closures – this is just the first stage.”
Work to improve water quality in the Heathfield to Rushlake Green area started on Battle Lane as planned from Hugletts Lane and working east to Chapel Lane. Traffic lights are now in place on this section. Work planned to start on Middle Lane on Wednesday has been delayed due to issues with the supply of HGV diversion signage and this is now expected to begin on Thursday 9 May.
The work by South East Water is part of an £18 million investment to improve the drinking water supply network.
Project manager, Jeremy Dufour, said: “We know our water supply in the area is not the standard we want for our customers and discolouration has been a common issue. To help improve this, we will be replacing approximately 6.5 kilometres of old water main along Battle Road.
“Much of the work will be under temporary traffic lights on this key route, but there will be several side road closures as we progress along Battle Road. Details of these can be found on our website at southeastwater.co.uk/punnettstown.”
This work forms part of a wider plan to improve the water supply network in East Sussex, with work also taking place in Rother, at our Bewl Water Treatment Works and in the Wadhurst area.
Southern Water has been asked to comment but a reply hasn’t been received yet.