Fresh calls have been made to ban lorries driving through a market town centre after a former pub building was badly damaged by one.
A lorry smashed into the side of the former Angel pub in Bungay as its driver attempted to turn from Lower Olland Street onto Upper Olland Street today.
The incident comes after the Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsey visited the town with party candidates Anthony Speca and Toby Hammond ahead of the local elections.
During their visit, they performed an analysis of the impact lorries and large vehicles are having in the town centre and also their pollution levels.
Mr Speca and Mr Hammond, who were voted in on the May 4 East Suffolk Council elections, say that tackling the HGV problem in the town is a "top priority" of theirs as Bungay district councillors.
Mr Hammond said: "It's awful to see this significant damage caused to one of our town's historic properties by an HGV.
"It’s not the first time. Many residents have also told us of noise, air pollution and vibration at all hours by these trucks."
“The solution might take time, but these HGVs simply shouldn’t be transiting through our town,” Mr Speca said.
“Tackling the HGV problem in Bungay is a top priority during our term of office.”
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Former town mayor Tony Dawes heard tyres screeching and the moment of impact when the lorry collided with the building.
He said: "I live nearby and my wife and I were enjoying the sun in the garden when we could hear a large vehicle manoeuvring.
"There was a horrible crunch and scraping sound.
"In a recent consultation by Bungay Town Council near the top of the list of problems residents have is the passage of lorries northbound through the town.
"This is an issue that has been ongoing for a number of years and we are still waiting for a resolution from Suffolk Highways."
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