A BROKEN-DOWN lorry has reignited calls for changes to be made to busy village roads.

Vicarage Lane in Rottingdean was brought to a standstill for four hours on Monday morning after a lorry broke down, leading to disruption for businesses and almost holding up a funeral

Stella Zantis works in the Open Art Cafe and the lorry was directly outside.

She said: “This happens at least once every couple of weeks and it is damaging our business.

“We rely on passing trade, people stopping in to have a coffee and being able to park outside – we have two disabled bays for this.

“No one came in the whole time the lorry was there and it was absolutely chaotic.”

The lorry was parked in Vicarage Lane from 9.30am and did not move until the afternoon.

Breakdown services had to go and move the vehicle in two parts.

Ms Zantis said: “It can’t keep happening because it seriously damaging our business.

“I don’t blame the lorry drivers – it is not their fault that the sat navs send them there.

“My solution would definitely be a time restriction to how long they can stay parked for.”

The Argus reported last year plans for a £15 million bypass scheme to help tackle congestion in Rottingdean.

Lynne Moss, from St Aubyns Field Evergreen campaign group, whose petition of 1,300 signatures took the issue to the parish council, told The Argus in October: “We would be better off not messing around with the smaller stuff that is not going to cut the mustard.

“A one-way system is just going to mess up other roads, a link road, bypass, whatever you want to call it, is what is needed.”

Tracy Jones, who owns the Olive Tree florist, said: “Obviously when traffic gets stuck like this it leads to people avoiding the area. It is not supposed to be used as a through road.”

There is a sign on Falmer Road that says the road can’t be used for parking.

Mary Mears, councillor for Rottingdean Coastal, said: “If there was a serious fire or another incident, fire engines, ambulances and police just would not be able to get through.

“This is not the first time large lorries have got stuck accessing Rottingdean. This time it nearly disrupted a funeral, this can’t be allowed to happen.

“There needs to be a change of signage. It used to be very clear that there was no access for large vehicles.”

Cllr Mears called for a change of approach to deal with the problem short-term, saying: “Sat nav companies also need to be contacted to make sure they don’t direct lorry drivers through the village.”