LORRIES have been driving into the centre of Cottingham, thanks to misdirection by sat navs. HGVs have been heading along Thwaite Street to search for the Swift Group caravan factory after a new road failed to register on electronic maps or postcode searches.
The heavy traffic has been causing confusion for motorists and pedestrians alike.
Now, village councillors are calling on sat nav companies to solve the problem.
Ros Jump, who represents Cottingham North ward, said: "If the lorries manage to get through Cottingham, they arrive at Swift's back door and they're not allowed in.
"So we've then got them coming back through Cottingham. It's really been an absolute shambles."
The access road lorries should be using, Ken Smith Way, was built in 2011 and connects to the A1079 between Beverley and Hull.
It was created so drivers would not have to go through the middle of Cottingham to the old Swift entrance.
The caravan firm said it was working with suppliers to solve the problem.
A spokesman said: "Swift Group has, since the opening of Ken Smith Way in 2011, continued to regularly liaise with all our suppliers and has provided maps and directions to the new gate.
"At the time of registering the postcode that was allocated to Swift, we were told it may take some time to register with sat nav providers.
"Swift has subsequently tried at all times to provide assistance and support in resolving the issue with frequent communication with East Riding Council, the local Post Office and the various sat nav companies."
Cllr Jump said most of the lorry drivers came from the continent and struggled to ask for help.
She praised Swift for creating an entrance away from the village and said more needed to be done by others to make it easy to find.
Cllr Jump said: "With no clear signage, and many of the drivers lacking basic English skills, they seem unable to use their sat navs or ask for clear directions.
"HGVs have been found wandering around the Willerby area, hopelessly lost, and it has been down to a few good Samaritans to personally guide them.
"We are worried that having reduced the number of HGV movements through the village due to Swift's dedicated entrance, we now have the problem returning."
Her fellow ward Councillor Gerladine Mathieson said she feared the problem would "cause a great deal of inconvenience to a lot of people".
'Postcode may not reflect exact geography'
The postcode is designed to ensure the accurate sorting, routing and delivery of our customers' mail. Postcodes were created for the routing of mail and, as such, may not reflect the exact geography of an area.
Other organisations, including sat nav companies, who may use our data, should not solely rely on the post town and should make sure they are using the most updated postcode address file. We recommend companies use a number of different tools to identify locations as well as the local knowledge and experience of dealing with people in remote and rural areas.
The postcode is just one such tool, but it will not be appropriate in all circumstances.
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