Businesss owners want action to be taken to stop lorries hitting their buildings in Kingsbury Street and putting Marl-borough’s heritage at risk.

In the most recent incident, a lorry turning into Silverless Street from Kingsbury Street hit Studio 42 – formerly the Gazette & Herald office – and damaged the brickwork. It also took off part of the roof.

The collision was the second incident in nine months that had affected the shop. In September, a lorry driver following a sat-nav route hit the building.

Studio 42 owner Janice Mister said: “I can’t have a lorry running into me every few months.

“The firemen were brilliant, but it is a waste of resources because they have to wait until the building control guy comes.

“We have to be careful that it is not weakening the structure of the building, which is Grade II listed.I just don’t think the council wants to do anything to protect these historic buildings. They’re quite keen to protect them in planning terms, but not against damage.”

Louise Backhouse has worked at Shield Management, based in Dormy House, Kingsbury Street, for 20 years and says the problem has worsened in the last three years. She said: “Our building has got the overhang and I can’t think how many times that has been damaged in the last few years.

“My colleague quite often has to come out and tell lorries that, rather than trying to turn to go towards the town hall, they’ve got to go up Kingsbury Road.

“These are Grade II listed buildings and Dormy House is starred, which means it’s of photographic interest, so if the local authority and Government want to keep these buildings they’ve got to help us protect them.”

Business owners are looking to raise the issue with the Marlborough Area Board.

Mrs Backhouse said: “We have reported it. We spoke to Wiltshire Council some time ago. We’ve suggested road signs to say that it’s not suitable for heavy vehicles, but nothing seems to have come of that.

Ms Mister added: “Ideally, I’d like sat-navs changed, so they don’t direct lorries down here, but that seems to be impossible.

“Otherwise, I’d like signs that say no lorries over a certain tonnage. We’ve got to stop lorries turning into Silverless Street.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “We have spoken with the owner of the property, and have recommended she raises her concerns through the Marlborough Area Board.”