Gosberton speedwatch volunteers were verbally abused while they tried to slow down motorists in High Street

Volunteers who are trying to reduce speeding in their village were told they should be ‘ashamed of themselves’ during a tirade of foul language from two residents.

Gosberton Community Speedwatch volunteer James Balls was carrying out speed checks with two other people outside the public hall on Sunday (April 27) when two men decided to film them and fire off a volley of abuse.

Community Speedwatch volunteers do not have the power to issue speeding fines but teams have been running across the area for many years in a bid to help people think twice about hitting the accelerator when passing through built up areas — and their actions can prompt warning letters.

Calls have been made in the past for action to be taken to slow down vehicles travelling through the village - prompting the formation of the speed watch team.

But two men who live in High Street told the volunteers on Sunday that there wasn’t a problem with speeding — and angrily expressed themselves with foul language.

Mr Balls, who is an advanced motorcycle rider, said: “We are doing it for the good of the community to get drivers to think about their speeds when they are going through a 30-40mph speed limit when children, elderly people and animals could be crossing the road.

“People driving a vehicle need to be aware that they are in charge of a deadly weapon.”

The team had been in place outside Gosberton Public Hall - which is a short distance away from the village’s playing field and primary school - for about 30 minutes when a man from a nearby property approached them.

Mr Balls said: “This chap came out and stood in the middle of the path taking pictures of us. He shouted out ‘you want to find yourself something to do. You want to be ashamed of yourselves’.”

Then the man walked back into the property before a younger man wearing glasses came out to shout at them.

Mr Balls said: “There was no reason for them to be taking our pictures or videoing us.

“He said that they had never had any trouble with speeding. I told him that we had a few logged for speeding.”

Then the volunteers were subjected to foul language and insults from the men - who were making the comments from behind a nearby fence.

As Mr Balls walked up to collect the speeding signs, he saw one of the men making rude gestures at him.

“We were doing something for the village he lives in. We want to get drivers to think about their speeds,” Mr Balls added.

“We have speed limits for a reason - we have had them since the advent of the motor car. The reason we have them is for your safety and the wider public’s safety. Why shouldn’t we abide by that?

“We saw kids crossing the road and elderly people on that day.

“We are just there to make people think.”

Volunteers give up their time to help improve road safety in their communities by recording incidents of speeding which are then shared with the police.

Speeding drivers then receive a letter from the police with the aim of educating people to think twice. They cannot issue speeding fines.

Community Speedwatch teams have to stand at appointed places.

But this isn’t the first time that Mr Balls has witnessed bad behaviour towards speed watch volunteers as he has in the past seen drivers give rude hand gestures and swear.

Mr Balls was inspired to join the team after witnessing the ‘ridiculous’ speeds people travel at in the area.

He said: “I am an advanced motorcyclist and help people to become safer on the roads and this fits in with that. There is no reason to speed.”

“The difference of travelling a mile at 30mph and 37mph is two seconds. Is it really worth putting someone’s life at risk for two seconds?”

Community Speedwatch co-ordinator Jan Whitbourn said teams had only one aim - to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding.

She said: “They are there to educate people in their village to get them to slow down. Hopefully, with volunteers doing it regularly, people will realise that they have to slow down - they won’t want a police car on their drive.

“It is a disappointing response from these men as they have to understand that the volunteers are there for their benefit. They are benefitting by having people give up their time to slow down drivers so there are accidents in their villages.”

What do you think? Post a comment below…