Speed prevention scheme launched in Barkway
A NEW scheme to prevent speeding had its county-wide launch in a Crow country village last week.
Community Speedwatch, which allows local people to check the speed of cars themselves, will be piloted in Barkway.
A speed measurement unit has been placed at one end of the village, and a team of volunteers will note down the registration numbers of fast drivers.
PC Nic Musto, who organised for Barkway to be the first village in Hertfordshire to install the scheme, said: “This scheme is about driver education, not punishment.
“They will be warned there are speed measures up ahead, and will learn next time they drive through to slow down.
“Villages and towns around the county have been asking us what they can do to slow traffic, and when we were approached by Barkway we said we could fit them with the Community Speedwatch as we needed somewhere to pilot it.”
Roadside volunteers are issued high-visibility jackets and warning signs and are trained to use the equipment and record the information.
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Persistent offenders will receive a second warning letter, and on a third occasion, offenders can expect further action by police.
Road Policing Chief Inspector Donna Pierce said: “Community Speedwatch is a great scheme which gives local residents and businesses a chance to take charge of their local roads.
“The scheme is all about educating drivers around the dangers of speeding however we will not shy away from taking action against repeat offenders.
“Speeding is one of the priorities that is highlighted by people in Royston and getting tough on speeding motorists is a priority for Hertfordshire Constabulary.”
Gordon Baker, vice chairman of Barkway Parish Council, said: “The Parish Council fully supports the speed watch. We have cars constantly speeding through here and it’s hazardous several times a day, so we are very grateful this has been introduced in Barkway and are proud to have the first one in Hertfordshire.
“This road is often given as a cut-through on sat-navs, so we get a lot of traffic for a village of our size. This should help sort that out.”
