Michael Williamson

Speedwatch is a community initiative backed by the police to record vehicles travelling in excess of the speed limit. Trained volunteers use a very accurate speed display unit (on loan from the Cambridgeshire Safety Camera Partnership ) which is portable and can easily be moved around the area. The volunteers pass the information to the police, who will send a warning letter to anyone who is significantly over the speed limit. Five Milton villagers are currently trained to use the equipment.

Trials in East Cambs over the last year have shown that this increases people’s awareness of their speeding and generally helps to slow the traffic down. Lib Dem District Councillor Hazel Smith, who set up the group in Milton said, ‘The Speedwatch volunteers in Milton have been very keen to be the first in our area to use this kit. We suffer from both congestion in the mornings and speeding cars at other times of day. Having the Speedwatch equipment in the village is better than a flashing sign which people get used to: we can move this equipment around the village and target the dangerous places at particular times of day - like the approaches to the school in the morning. The idea is to remind people of the speed limit - no-one will get points on their licence just because we catch them over the speed limit, but they will get a letter from the police if they are going far too fast.’

A training session for new volunteers in Landbeach, Waterbeach and Milton has been arranged for Saturday morning, May 9th at 10 o’clock until 12 noon. For further information, contact Michael Williamson.