Drivers beware: New speed watch team snaring motorists on this …
A new community speed watch group has been set up in Blurton[1] – and has already caught drivers doing 57mph in a 30mph zone. The group, made up from volunteers across Blurton, will be targeting Drubbery Lane, Church Road and the Seddons’ Estate.
Volunteers have to undergo training from Staffordshire Police before being allowed to carry out any work. The speed watch team works in groups of three – one to operate the speed gun, a second to write down details and a third to count traffic.
Volunteer Gary Simpson got involved after becoming concerned about speeding. The 50-year-old said: “I joined after the chairman of a community meeting asked for volunteers, I was concerned about speeding and I know it’s a problem”
Speed watcher and Blurton resident Ken Williams, 60, said that the speed gun only recorded the speed of the vehicle and once the data was collected, it was sent to the police.
READ: Bid to make A50/A500 corridor UK’s ‘hydrogen valley’[2]
He said: “We use a radar device. Everyone we suspect of speeding, we aim the device and pull the trigger. All the device does it record the speed.
“Then we record it in the log sheet. Once the sheet is completed, it is sent to the speed watch group at the police and anyone who has exceeded the speed limit is sent a letter.”
Anyone caught speeding by the group is sent a letter. If caught again, they can expect the police at their door – and after that, points on their licence and possible fines.
The group can record motorists using a phone while driving. Volunteer Les Warrilow, 68, said: “If we catch anyone driving with a mobile it’s a straight £200 fine and six points – no warning letter.”
Volunteers have caught a driver traveling at 57mph in a 30mph zone.
Ward councillor Lorraine Beardmore said speeding along the estates was one of the biggest issues in the community and to get the group up and running she put a call out to residents asking them to join.
The community leader said: “Speeding is one of the things that’s raised with me the most as the local councillor, not just on the main roads but estate roads.
“I’ve been trying to get the police to take action for a number of years. We had an assessment on Drubberry Lane and then the police didn’t follow it up with any action.
“Now they are an active community speed watch group and it is already reducing speed, you do see people visibly slow down when they see the signs and the volunteers in their high vis jackets. Hopefully it will have a psychological effect on people thinking I won’t speed now I know I could get caught.”
If Blurton residents are interested in volunteering for the community speed watch group they should contact Councillor Lorraine Beardmore.
If you’re on the lookout for local news, we have you covered with our FREE email newsletter – sign up in the box at the top of this story or click here[3].
References
- ^ Blurton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Bid to make A50/A500 corridor UK’s ‘hydrogen valley’ (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ or click here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)