Gosberton's new Speedwatch team needs volunteers - or it won't happen

A village’s Speedwatch scheme will only get off the ground if enough volunteers come forward to make it happen.

An appeal has gone out for people to be trained in the use of a speed gun in Gosberton, which will allow members of the public to help tackle speeding drivers.

At least 11 people are needed to join parish councillor Rowland Perry to make the scheme possible - but no one has stepped up to the challenge.

Coun Perry, who is the parish council’s representative for the scheme, said: “Everybody in Gosberton is moaning about the speed of traffic through the village but we can’t get enough volunteers.

“Two years ago we held a public meeting regarding the volume of traffic and no end of people said they wanted to get involved but nobody did.

“Yet they are commenting on Facebook about the buildings shaking from the lorries going past and people speeding.

“We have just been in the public hall and you get lorries coming past, one just going over 30 mph and we felt it in the hall and it was shaking. These are 52 tonne lorries.”

“Part of the road down Gosberton Risegate is treated as a race track and we’ve had someone go into the railings outside the school there.”

And he said he is aware of a report of one driver who is clocking up speeds through the village of between 65-70 mph in a 30 mph limit each evening at around 5pm.

He said: “The speed guns people will be using are hand held and they will be equipped with fluorescent jackets etc and you have to be in groups of three.”

“Everybody in Gosberton is moaning about the speed of traffic through the village but we can’t get enough volunteers."

Offenders caught speeding can expect a first warning letter from the Speedwatch coordinator, who will have access to driver details through the police national computer, and a second, sterner warning if caught again.

If they are caught a third time, they will get a visit from a police officer at home and could find themselves in court.

But Coun Perry said: “If we don’t get enough people we will not be able to operate the scheme.”

Speed indicator signs in Gosberton remind drivers of the 30mph limit.

And a new sign has arrived which will be able to flash up a ‘thank you’ to those drivers who obey the law.

Villages across South Holland are on standby for the start of the volunteer-led traffic calming scheme across Lincolnshire, we reported last week.

As well as Gosberton, it is understood that at least six other parish councils - Cowbit, Deeping St Nicholas, Gedney, Gedney Hill, Sutton St James and Weston, have registered an interest in joining Community Speedwatch.

Last year, we reported that first results from speed indicator devices (SIDs) in Gosberton’s High Street showed 33,918 drivers flouted the 30mph limit in a four-week spell in March.

Whaplode and Holbeach St Johns district councillor Jan Whitbourn was recently named as area volunteer co-ordinator for South Holland, the first of four such roles to be filled across the county.

Community Speedwatch (CSW) is a national initiative.

Vehicles exceeding the speed limit are referred to the police with the aim of educating drivers to reduce their speeds.

In cases where education is blatantly ignored and there is evidence of repeat or excessive offences then police will take action to prosecute offenders.

If you can help as a volunteer in the new Speedwatch scheme, call Coun Perry on 07583 778250.

PREVIOUSLY:

Villages in South Holland wait for Community Speed Watch launch

‘Speed guns’ are on their way to South Holland