Bid to create new town Speed Watch

Volunteers are being asked to come forward to monitor speeding drivers in Spalding with the town’s first Community Speed Watch scheme set to get going.

For the last four years numerous towns and villages in South Holland have used the initiative where trained volunteers register data of speeding vehicles for Lincolnshire Police.

But it’s never been rolled out in Spalding itself where there’s no town and parish council to cover the insurance needed for the volunteers.

Coun Gary Taylor told a recent meeting of the Spalding Town Forum that he would take up bringing Community Speed Watch to Spalding.

And, after finding out Lincolnshire Police can cover the insurance, he’s now looking to add to the volunteers including one person whose property was damaged by a speeding driver.

“A lot of people want to take part as they’re fed up of people speeding past their properties,” coun Taylor said. “We’ve a duty to try and investigate this a bit further.

“We need to get the kit, which isn’t going to be as expensive as I first thought, and then we’re looking to recruit volunteers.

“We’re asking people concerned about speeding in their area of Spalding to come forward and contact us so we can get them trained up.

“Community Speed Watch has made a difference in communities throughout South Holland and it needs to happen in Spalding too.

“You can help play a part in helping to reduce the speed of vehicles in the town.”

After training Community Speed Watch volunteers record vehicles at known speeding spots.

The data recorded by the guns is sent to Lincolnshire Police who immediately send out up to two warning letters to those found breaking the speed limit.

If a driver is caught a third time the letter is hand delivered by a police officer.

Jan Whitbourn is one of four area organisers for the scheme in Lincolnshire and says it has made a difference in the county.

“It’s taken nearly four years, but finally it looks like we’re about to get a much needed Community Speed Watch in Spalding,” she said. “We’ve had so many success stories in South Holland where people have said they can see the difference volunteers have made to the scheme.

“Anyone can come forward and volunteer.”

To volunteer call Jan on 07779 895388 or email jan@tulip-events.co.uk;