Residents are angry they cannot voice their opposition to a plan to base five lorries in the heart of their village.
An inquiry is being held today into an application by Woods and Co to have a depot in the centre of Groby.
But the hearing, being conducted by the Traffic Commissioners at the Fieldhead Hotel in Markfield, will not accept comments from residents or their representatives.
County councillor for the area Ozzy O'Shea said: "I am angry that I will not be able to make any comments at the inquiry.
"I was a police officer for 31 years and I know a great deal about road safety.
"But I did not know anything about the hearing until recently. I have been gagged because I did not register an intention to speak early enough."
The company wants permission from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Vosa) to operate five tractor units and trailers from a plot in The Rookery. It has history of use as a small depot and has also been used to store vehicles.
Groby parish councillor Peter Batty, who is also a borough councillor, said: "There is a lot of anger that the community was not informed or consulted that there had been a licence application for five large vehicles. "
Charnwood MP Stephen Dorrell has written to Vosa raising people's fears.
The application is being opposed by County Hall.
A spokesman for Leicestershire County Council said: "As the highways authority, we can raise concerns and objections to an application on access, parking and road safety issues - and this is what has happened here."
A spokeswoman for Vosa said the inquiry was the responsibility of the Traffic Commissioner.
Groby resident Joyce Oneill, 66, said: "I don't think it's a very good idea. There are houses, old people and children nearby. I don't really see why we need it."
Fellow resident John Hitchings, 63, said: "It's a very narrow road to have a lorry depot on."
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: "My main concern would be HGVs coming down that road. You've got a lot of elderly people and children passing through."
A spokesman for the Traffic Commissioner said the process governing inquiries into applications was very strict.
He said the applicant was obliged to publish its application in a local newspaper which it did. Organisations then could register an objection within 21 days. He said the Traffic Commissioner had to inform the applicant of any objections so late requests to speak at the hearing could not be allowed. Vosa said the decision rested with the Traffic Commissioners. A spokesperson for Wood and Co said they had operated vehicles from the site before.
