'Our house shakes so much the chandeliers jangle'

A couple say their whole house shakes and their chandeliers jangle when heavy lorries and buses pass outside.

Rob and Georgina Wilson said cracks had also appeared in walls and skirting boards at their 150-year-old property in Hornsea, and the problem had got worse since work began on a new housing development.

The couple live on Westgate, a busy A-road through the town centre, which has previously been the subject of protests over safety as it is so narrow large vehicles are forced to mount the pavement to pass.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said it had every sympathy for residents but the layout of the road meant there was "no obvious solution without significant infrastructure changes".

Mr Wilson said he believed vibrations caused by traffic also shook shower tiles from the wall and caused a leak, which forced him to replace his bathroom.

"If it wasn't that we'd used construction materials that are designed to cope with vibration, I'm sure we'd be back to a ruined bathroom already," he said.

Plans for 158 new homes on a site off Rolston Road in Hornsea were approved in February.

Developer Keepmoat said, while building work had not yet begun, an archaeological dig was under way on the site in line with planning conditions.

Mrs Wilson said a recent increase in traffic linked to the development had made the problem worse.

"We noticed a lot of big trucks going past on their way into Hornsea and, an hour or so later, they were coming back out again," she said.

"Every time one went past, the whole house shook and this was happening every hour throughout the day and we've not had that before.

"The chandelier shakes. It's become really noticeable."

A spokesperson for the council added: "Westgate is a key access route into Hornsea and therefore carries a significant volume of traffic, including heavy goods vehicles.

"While we have every sympathy with the concerns of local residents, the layout of the town is as such that this road is close to houses along both sides of Westgate.

"Changes to speed limits are usually brought about because of serious safety concerns or accidents happening and Westgate has an excellent safety record."

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