Help catch speeding drivers

Brampton Community Road Safety Group is ready to launch a clamp-down on speeding drivers and is appealing for people to join their dedicated band of volunteers.

Former parish councillor David Shepherd is co-ordinating the campaign, which has been two years in the making and plagued by delays. The group now has a Falcon radar speed gun and dedicated road signs and is calling for people to head-up the community safety effort.

Mr Shepherd said this week “This campaign has been two years in the making. “Our first hurdle was getting funding to buy the equipment and we are very grateful to Brampton Parish Council and the neighbourhood forum for helping us meet the £2,000 cost. We are looking for anybody who has a concern about speeding cars in their area to come forward. This can be adults of all ages and even people who can only spare a couple of hours a month. The volunteers will work in pairs with the speed gun in areas across the town. The campaign is particularly important in a rural area such a Brampton where we have a busy town surrounded by 60mph roads.”

He added that the gun will be used in speeding hotspots including the A69 near the town’s Co-op as well as residential streets.

A dedicated phone line will be set up for people to report areas of concern which the speed watch teams will then investigate. The volunteers will record the registration numbers of cars found to be breaking the speed limit and their details will be passed on to police.

Mr Shepherd said “The drivers will be sent a letter by police informing them that they have been caught and warning them not to do it again. If they are caught a second time they will get a really serious letter and if a driver is caught breaking the limit a third time police will take action.”

PC Anita Owen, who came up with the idea for the campaign added “Obviously the police will still be going out with our own radar and anyone caught speeding by police will be issued with a fixed penalty notice. But this campaign is about prevention and this something we are very keen on.”We have a lot of through traffic and drivers who have come from a 60mph zone in to the 30mph zone. We are trying to remind people that they have entered a beautiful little market town and must slow down.”

The campaign group had to consult with the highways department to get permission to erect signs warning motorists they are entering a speed watch zone and were required to develop a protocol for the campaign.

If you would like to join the campaign or report an area of concern contact Mr Shepherd on 07720 906976.