The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A drive to get an army of volunteers with speed guns organised to improve safety on built up roads around South Holland has been launched.
Leading the call is the newly appointed community speed watch police support volunteer for South Holland, Jan Whitbourn.
Giving volunteers more powers to track speeding motorists is the brainchild of Lincolnshire police and crime commissioner (PCC) Marc Jones.
Four people will be appointed to oversee the volunteers at a regional level, and Jan has been given the position for South Holland.
Now she wants any volunteers interested in carrying out the speed checks to get in touch with her.
Volunteers will then be invited for training ahead of the scheme becoming operational, a date for which has yet to be set.
Jan told The Voice: “It was when I was campaigning for the recent district council election that I was walking the streets for six weeks and I saw so much speeding.
“People ask why aren’t the police there to see it, but they can’t be there all day.
“That’s why this sort of scheme is great.
“I’m really delighted to have been given this role and I’m looking forward to working with a lot of people who are working to put the right message about speeding across.
“I’ve already had people coming forward and there’s a lot of people who want to be a part of it.
“We now want them all to email me so we can get them together and get ready for training.”
Jan hopes that all volunteers will have the same speed guns which will be highly accurate, though parish councils or groups will have to pay for them costing around £100 each.
There’s also the possibility of communities sharing guns and flashing speed signs.
When the volunteers’ training is complete three at a time will be able to take readings at places designated by Community Speed Watch.
These will be close to where moveable flashing speed signs can be erected.
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.
Dave Mitchell, the community speed watch co-ordinator for Lincolnshire Police, says the scheme is about education and is already proving a success elsewhere, including in Cambridgeshire.
“People use roads habitually and usually just go at the same speed.
“The majority of those found speeding in speed watch schemes are those that live in that area.
“This is about educating drivers and challenging that behaviour.
“In Cambridgeshire it rarely gets to the third letter stage so it shows that the scheme has an effect.
“We know all about Jan’s enthusiasm and it’s great to have her confirmed as the first of four in the county we’re appointing.”
John Siddle, the communications manager of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, said: “It’s a project that’s never been done in this county before but speeding is one of the most significant challenges we face.
“With this initiative we’re particularly looking at the 30mph and 40mph built up areas in our towns and villages.
“There won’t be people camouflaged and hiding in bushes. They will be near warning signs and there will be ample warning about the speed they should be going at.
“This is educational and about giving people the opportunity to change their behaviour.”
Volunteers interested in carrying out regular speed checks in their community can contact Jan at jan@Tulip-events.co.uk or by calling 07779 895388.
