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Amazon lorry drivers in Hoo seen urinating and pooing in road a year on from identical problems

A village is still being "blighted" by Amazon lorries a year on from when they first started causing havoc.

Last year, people in Hoo, near Rochester, had HGVs lost outside their homes after sat-navs took them the wrong way trying to find the Amazon depot.

Long lines of lorries park on the side of the roads in Hoo, Rochester

Since an Amazon warehouse opened near the village, residents say they have had to put up with countless amounts of vehicles queued up on the side of the road as well as seeing drivers go to the toilet next to their lorries.

Jane Poynter, of Rivenhall Way, Hoo, has been left disgusted by some of the mess left behind.

She said: "It's still horrendous. We've been in touch with Medway Council and Amazon about it but they've not been able to do anything.

"It first started about a year ago and got gradually better but in the last couple of months it's got worse. I'm ringing or emailing Amazon daily now to sort it out.

Up to 20 lorries have been seen blocking part of the roads in Hoo, near Rochester
Up to 20 lorries have been seen blocking part of the roads in Hoo, near Rochester

"Whenever you leave the house there's so many lorries. Especially now, when we can't leave as often, to just see them parked up on a long stretch of road is awful."

Mrs Poynter says she has seen drivers along Ratcliffe Highway pooing on the floor and urinating up the side of their vehicles.

"Something's got to be done," the 54-year-old added.

"It's unacceptable. The poor people who live opposite it must be disgusted – there are bags of rubbish everywhere where they've been chucked out on the road."

Mrs Poynter's husband, Martin, has also been trying to sort the problem out with the council and Amazon. He insists the couple's problem is not with the drivers.

Residents in Hoo have said the current situation with Amazon lorries is "a nightmare"
Residents in Hoo have said the current situation with Amazon lorries is "a nightmare"

He said: "We don't have a problem with the factory, or the drivers, as it's brought in a lot of jobs, but it amazes me this massive depot was built without a facility for lorries to park up and stay.

"Instead, the drivers are having to wait on grass verges, ruining the land, while leaving piles of rubbish and urine-filled bottles on the side of the road."

The 54-year-old builder added: "It happened last year and got better but the problems have just come back again and this time the vehicles and mess is getting further and further away from the industrial estate.

"Whatever time of day you go out, they're there, and nobody is doing anything about it.

"I don't have a problem with the depot or drivers but if something is being built it's got to be done so the lives of people who live there aren't affected by it."

The lorries are delivering to the Amazon warehouse in Hoo
The lorries are delivering to the Amazon warehouse in Hoo

Amazon spokesman Lamarah Williams Steele said: “Amazon strives to be a good neighbour. We regularly communicate to reinforce requirements to park sensibly and courteously.

"We have informed our carrier partners about the concerns raised and reminded them of the behaviour expected of drivers.”

Medway Council said it wanted to reassure residents it was doing all it could to deal with the issue, including working with its contractors to clean the nearby streets every weekday and creating posters for lorry drivers, written in multiple languages, reminding them of their responsibilities to keep the area clean and tidy.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

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