The road, signposted as unsuitable for heavy vehicles, is being used regularly by lorries carrying tons of stone to an expanding quarry in South-owram.

The narrow road is the only access for the lorries but villagers claim they have damaged stone walls and plants and cause huge risk to pedestrians.

It is claimed the vibrations of the eight-wheel lorries – which pass down Whitley Lane up to eight times a day – are slowly destroying a nearby Grade II-listed barn.

Richard Bamford, who owns the barn at Law Farm, said: "It's a disgrace, something needs to be done because a lovely little country lane and surrounding structures are being destroyed and lives are being made miserable."

He said engineers had told him the 17th-century building could be irreparably damaged if the vibrations continued.

Now he has asked council officials to take action against the lorries, which he says have increased in numbers since a small expansion of a nearby quarry business.

Another neighbour, Jeff Gill, of Waterclough Lane, said: "Because there are no places you can pass you get drivers and pedestrians having to back all the way down the lane to give way. It's dangerous.

"The road is now developing potholes and soon it won't be fit for purpose."

But Roy Taylor, of Mytholm Stone Sales, Whitley Lane, said: "It's a recommendation that the road is not suitable but it is not a law.

"There have been HGVs using it for decades and I don't see why they should stop now. They do no damage. They defin- itely aren't a danger and they are vital to business."

A Calderdale Council spokesman said: "Advisory signs are in place on Whitley Lane making it clear the lane is unsuitable for heavy-goods vehicles.

"However, access rights exist on the lane that date back to when the quarry first opened."

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