Community Speedwatch in Littleborough

Councillor Ann Stott with a speed gun

Littleborough’s first Community Speedwatch initiative took place on Monday afternoon (26 November).

Community Speedwatch is a national initiative to reduce speeding and refer those who do to the police, with the aim of educating drivers to reduce their speeds.

The neighbourhood policing team were joined by ward councillors John Taylor and Ann Stott, plus several members of the community to monitor speeds of vehicles using speed detection devices.

Volunteers receive appropriate training, and are supported by neighbourhood policing team staff.

The scheme caters for real or perceived speed related offending, and through partnership with the community, aims to:

• reduce death and injury on the road
• improve the quality of life for local communities
• reduce the speed of vehicles to the speed limit
• increase public awareness of inappropriate speed

Councillor Taylor, who has been campaigning to make the borough’s roads safer, said: “It was great to see the police, community and councillors working together in making our roads safer.

“Road safety has been highlighted as a serious concern for residents and campaigns such as this are a result of us listening to those concerns.

“Our thanks go to the neighbourhood policing team and to the members of our community who took part.”

Councillor Stott added: “It's amazing just how much people slow down when you point a speed gun at them. It's a great way to help improve safety on our roads.”

More Community Speedwatch initiatives are planned in the near future for Littleborough and Wardle.