Cornwall Council officials have seen at first hand the effects of HGVs thundering through St Teath, after North Cornwall Liberal Democrat MP, Dan Rogerson, summoned them to the village.

Local residents and parish councillors have long campaigned for a weight restriction on the B3267 to stop vehicles striking local properties and shaking their foundations as they travel through Fore Street and the village square.

Research by the parish council shows that there is a steady flow of traffic throughout the day, and about one fifth is accounted for by commercial vehicles. It is believed that a weight limit would stop some larger vehicles coming through the village, reducing congestion and avoiding damage to nearby homes.

A spokesman said: "Campaigning in St Teath has met a stony response in Truro, where councillors have left the weight limit project languishing in a queue of highways projects all round Cornwall. The administration has recently reduced the level of 'Member's Budgets' which had traditionally been used to speed up this sort of projects."

Commenting, Mr Rogerson said: "These relatively minor works are urgent to stop the damage heavy goods vehicles are doing to local properties.

"I've worked closely with residents and the parish council to get officials from Truro, down here to see the problem with their own eyes."

He continued: "It's the kind of thing we could get sorted very quickly if the administration at County Hall would simply give up some power and money to local councillors and residents. Areas like this should have their own budgets to prioritise the projects which will really make a difference.

"While the Conservatives get their priorities wrong, St Teath and its residents are stuck in an enormous cross-Cornwall queue, with little prospect of the swift action which is so clearly necessary."