Suffolk’s Community Speed Watch initiative is enjoying continued success as the scheme launches in the St Edmundsbury Rural North area this month.

Local parishes Bardwell, Coney Weston, Fakenham Magna and Hopton have signed up to the project, which is supported by Suffolk Roadsafe, with the help of the St Edmundsbury Rural North Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT).

The Community Speed Watch initiative was first implemented in Suffolk earlier in the year and has quickly grown to include five active schemes run by ninety volunteers. It allows members of the community to address the issue of speeding by becoming actively involved in road safety by working in partnership with parish councils and Suffolk Constabulary. The main objectives of the scheme are to secure a reduction in the numbers of drivers exceeding the speed limit, to re-educate drivers about the dangers of speeding and to address concerns from local residents about cars speeding through their neighbourhoods.

The volunteers work in pairs to verify and record the registration numbers of offending vehicles. These details are then forwarded to Suffolk Constabulary whereby a letter is issued to the registered keeper. A maximum of two letters are sent to offenders, after which the details will be passed to a Roads Policing Officer with a view of targeted intervention or prosecution.

The Bury Rural North scheme currently has eight active volunteers, one of whom acts as the scheme coordinator, covering four parishes. All the volunteers are trained to use the speed detection equipment and dedicate their own time to monitor road traffic with the advice and support of their local SNT. Suffolk County Councillor Joanna Spicer helped to instigate the scheme and has kindly provided locality grant money for the funding of speed monitor equipment, signs and high visibility jackets.

Sergeant Kevin Jay from Bury Rural North SNT says, "It's good to see more parishes getting their own schemes together. One of the major local issues that we as an SNT are repeatedly asked about by the public is speeding and Community Speed Watch provides people with an opportunity to do something very pro-active to help tackle the issue. The scheme isn't about prosecutions, it's really a reminder to drivers of the speed limit and the fact that so few second warning letters are ever sent out is very positive indeed."

Councillor Joanna Spicer, Chair of the County Council says, “This scheme in this area has been in the planning stages for a very long time and it is fantastic to see it now working. I am more than happy to provide the funding for the equipment required after so many villages have decided to work together pro-actively and positively to tackle a local problem.

“This is a perfect example of Suffolk Constabulary working in partnership with organisations such as Suffolk County Council, Road Safe, and the local parish councils through the Safer Neighbourhood Teams to solve issues at a local level.”

Community Speed Watch Volunteers are part of the Police Support Volunteer Scheme. Anyone interested in volunteering or setting up a Community Speed Watch scheme can contact their local SNT for more information on 01473 613500.

To find out more about your Safer Neighbourhood Team, please log on to www.onesuffolk.co.uk/safersuffolk