CONCERNS have been raised over wagons hitting a railway bridge which has been 'going on for years'.

The Leader previously reported a HGV got stuck at the railway bridge in Shotton following an overturned heavy goods vehicle on Deeside Industrial Park, leading to further traffic disruptions.

Shotton town councillors have said this has been an issue for several years and when it happens, it causes mayhem across the town.

Cllr Kelly Brown said: "This has been going on for years. I remember this happening when I was a child and when it does happen it causes so many problems that can continue for hours.

"Not only traffic problems. I remember it happening when I was doing homecare, half of my round was on one side of the bridge and the other half on the other side. Vulnerable people were left waiting longer than needed to receive the care they needed.

"The signs that are in place aren't visible enough, and once the vehicle is in Shotton there is no where for a large vehicle to turn around, they are committed to continuing.

"We need to have more visible signs from as far back as Oakenholt and the Queensferry roundabout to give drivers the correct information with plenty of time to make the decision to turn around.

"That's just the road problems, the delays it causes on the railway too for commuters is a problem. I don't know how much it costs each time it happens having to get the vehicle out, having to have the bridge checked, shop losses, but surely it would be more cost effective to have better more up to date signage."

Cllr Mike Evans has called for a modern height detection for drivers in both directions to avoid a repeat.

He added: "The main road is mayhem when wagons hit Shotton railway bridge. The whole of Deeside grinds to a halt.

"The railway bridge was hit again last week in Shotton and caused major disruption to both traffic and trains, this was due to a wagon overturning on Deeside Industrial Estate and the traffic being diverted on to the Coast Road.

"When we get high winds they shut the new bridge over the Dee and they get diverted then as well.

"I have asked at council meetings for a more modern height detection well before Shotton, from both directions, giving the drivers more chance to turn around, at the moment there are only a couple of sign posts, but as normal cost of equipment is the argument.

"But to me that's minimal compared to the cost to businesses and commuters because sometimes they can be stuck for a long time."