Volunteers combat speeding hotspot in village

Christopher DayLocal Democracy Reporter
News imageGetty Images A close-up of a person's hand holding a traffic speed enforcement device. The road surface in the background is uneven and contains potholes.Getty Images
Volunteers said they clocked dozens of drivers coming into Willian at excessive speed

A team of volunteers have been using police equipment to combat what one councillor described as the "menace of speeding" through their village.

Claire Winchester, a Liberal Democrat on North Herts Council, said Willian near Letchworth was known as a "real hotspot" for drivers exceeding the 30mph (48km/h) limit.

Volunteers "clocked dozens of drivers coming into the village at excessive speed", Winchester said.

Judy Taylor, who took part in the initiative run by Hertfordshire Police, hoped their work meant further signage or traffic-calming measures would be installed.

The team set up their equipment at random times and days of the week, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Deborah Dawson, who was also involved in checking speeds, said drivers caught going over the 30mph limit would be sent an advisory letter explaining that they could have been prosecuted had it been a police speed check.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Hertfordshire's police and crime commissioner, said speeding was "one of the issues residents raise with me most often because people rightly worry about the risk it poses".

He continued: "It is encouraging to see Willian village residents taking practical action through our Community DriveSafe scheme to help slow drivers down and improve safety in the village."

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