Motorists will be discouraged from driving faster than the speed limit in Blunsdon as part of a community partnership.
A Community Speed Watch (CSW) scheme is being launched in the village on Wednesday (22 February) by local residents in partnership with Swindon Borough Council, Wiltshire Police and Blunsdon Parish Council, with the aim of tackling the problem of speeding motorists.
The CSW initiative can be set up in any village, small town, or urban area, governed by either a 30 or 40 miles per hour speed limit, to discourage drivers and motorcyclists from driving faster than the set speed limit and improving the quality of life of the local residents.
A Speed Watch consists of local residents, who are willing to volunteer a small amount of time each week to monitor speeds with handheld speed detection equipment following training by police officers.
Motorists caught speeding by volunteers are sent a warning letter from the police. Further action is taken against persistent offenders, who will receive a visit from Wiltshire Police.
The main objectives of the scheme are to:
- to secure a reduction in vehicle speeds
- to prevent collisions
- to improve quality of life to reduce noise pollution
- to raise public awareness of inappropriate speed
People can raise speeding issues with their locality leads or local councillors by giving their details and outlining exactly where the speeding occurs. The locality lead or councillor will arrange for the issue to be investigated. If it is found that the site meets the criteria for Community Speed Watch, residents will be invited to gather a small group of volunteers together.
The CSW co-ordinator, based at the police central road safety unit, will be on hand to assist communities and will arrange everything so that people can become CSW volunteers.
The schemes will be supported by the police. Alternatively, the relevant neighbourhood policing team will be able to provide more information about CSW schemes in various areas. For more information on Community Speed Watch please email: csp@swindon.gov.uk or call 01793 466155.
Cllr Colin Lovell, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services and a Safer and Stronger Borough, said: “Community Speed Watch is all about getting drivers to think about the speed they are travelling at because speeding is dangerous.
“This is a really good example of how the community can come together to deal with a safety issue in their locality.”
The Community Speed Watch launch will take place at Blunsdon Village Hall in High Street, Blunsdon at 12pm on Wednesday (22 February).