Everything in our homes, to the bricks themselves and the food in the cupboards, arrived at some point on a lorry. Lorries are an essential part of our economy. However, we all know - homeowners, hauliers, lorry drivers, highway engineers - that some roads are suitable for lorries and some are not.

The problem is that a combination of overcrowded roads, the widespread use of satellite navigation systems, the increasing number of long distance lorries unfamiliar with local roads and the increasing size of the lorries themselves mean that too many lorries end up using inappropriate roads either unknowingly, or sometimes illegally. It's in nobody's interests that lorries get stuck or cause dangerous incidents, least of all those of local residents and the lorry drivers themselves.

LORD is an action group focussed on reducing the inappropriate, unnecessary or illegal use of minor rural (and Urban) roads by HGVS. Our approach has been to research how progress has been made in some parts of the country. We now intend to bring together all the stakeholders to find constructive local solutions to the problem.

LORD is focused on Surrey. However, if you live outside Surrey and are interested in LORD's activities then do please contact us. Many counties are seeking to find similar solutions.

LORD was founded by concerned Surrey residents who recognised that the solution needs to involve many different stakeholders. LORD engages, or seeks to engage, with:

• Surrey County Council. The Council has the challenging task of maintaining almost all of the affected A, B, C and D roads in Surrey including signage and designation. However, Surrey cannot know where the problem roads lie without the involvement of local communiities.
• Parish Councils. The many parishes around Surrey are the closest statutory body to the problem but have no enforcement powers themselves. LORD is pleased to represent or speak with 46 Parish Councils in Surrey who seek to present a coherent voice to the other stakeholders.
• Hauliers. LORD is not an anti-lorry movement. LORD wants to work with hauliers to help ensure that lorries use the right roads. This is in the hauliers' interests as much as local residents'.
• Satellite navigation mapping companies. Satellite navigation is ubiquitous, particularly amongst lorry drivers. It is important that the mapping directs lorry drivers to roads they can use. LORD seeks to work with the mapping companies to ensure routing is accurate.