Biggin Hill residents have vented their fury after suffering more than 70 lorries a day thundering past their homes for 18 months.

Haulage lorries pass along Biggin Hill’s roads between 9am and 4.30pm each day carrying thousands of tonnes of soil for the re-landscaping of Cherry Lodge Golf Club in Jail Lane.     

Biggin Hill residents voiced their concerns at a meeting with golf club secretary Brian Bamford on Wednesday.

Locals claim the lorries travel above the speed limit, crack the roads and cause traffic mayhem.  
Addressing Mr Bamford, resident Barry Simner asked the golf club to consider offering compensation to residents. 

The 68-year-old retired pharmacist, of Jail Lane, said: "What consideration have you given to the residents of Biggin Hill? 

"Whether it be the lorries cracking up the roads or the dust and dirt flying everywhere - you have caused major inconvenience to us.

"The lorry drivers are breaking the law and I am amazed that we haven’t had a fatality. 

"The speed that some of them come at. What are you going to do to say sorry to Biggin Hill residents?" 

Mr Bamford told residents the golf club would not be offering compensation. 

Mum Jenny Leng said the lorries also hurtle through Keston village at speed past children who are walking to the village primary school in Lakes Road. 

The 47-year-old, of Heathfield Road, said: "It is absolutely terrifying and I can’t tell you how worrying this is for parents. 

"I have even seen lorries texting on their phones while they are driving."

Ms Leng said she has reported these incidents to the police and Bromley Council.    

Work began to re-landscape 11 holes of the golf course in April last year. The soil deliveries are expected to last another seven months. 

The lorries enter a custom built concrete haul road across a bridleway popular with dog walkers and horse riders, from Main Road just north of the Aperfield Inn pub.

Bromley Council rejected an application submitted by Cherry Lodge Golf Club to build the access road to allow the course redevelopment in November 2011.

But a planning inspector at a public inquiry ruled in favour of an appeal put forward by the golf course in December the following year.        

Mr Bamford said he would pass on residents' concerns to Woodlands Environmental, the landscaping company responsible for the lorries. 

He also welcomed residents to make an appointment with him at the course to view the redevelopment work.

Mr Bamford said: "We welcome the community to come and use the golf club. We want to encourage children to come and play golf too. 

"The haul road will be removed at the end of the project and a new hedgerow replanted. We also have plans to make new areas for wildlife and plant an orchard with fruit trees."

After the meeting, Biggin Hill and District Residents Association vice-chairman Ken Gerry, 71, said:
"I would just like to see a bit more compassion from the golf club and a little bit more understanding for the residents in Biggin Hill. There was none of that at the meeting. 

"The whole thing should have been knocked on the head in the first place."