I recently met with the Hellingly Community Speedwatch, a local group of volunteers campaigning for safer roads. The team has the support of Hellingly Parish Council and Sussex Police. They are out in force on a regular basis.
Community Speedwatch is a nationally-recognised scheme that operates with the support of the Police. Training, insurance, high- visibility clothing and equipment is provided and anyone can become involved with an existing scheme or register to establish a new scheme.
The data collected by Community Speedwatch is used to inform local policing and the details of offending vehicles are submitted to the Police and letters issued to registered keepers informing them of possible offences. The scheme’s aim is to encourage safer driving.
During my recent visit, I got to witness first-hand the work of the team, monitoring driving behaviours and reporting excessive speeds to Sussex Police, as well as experiencing the verbal abuse given out by some motorists on the roadside.
The primary concern of these volunteers is one of safety and to encourage drivers to respect the road. They have caught dozens of vehicles being driven dangerously, witnessed mobile phones being used, and being subjected to verbal abuse by passing motorists.
Debo Gage, Co-ordinator of the local group said: “we feel passionate about our work and we hope our example will help others. We want everyone living in the village to feel safe.”
Volunteers told me that the local council won’t act until there is a fatality. They shared concerns about the additional traffic generated by the new sports hub and the council’s refusal to accept there is a road safety issue until someone dies. I don’t believe this is acceptable and will be writing to the Highways department at East Sussex County Council and asking them to review the situation and work with the local community to improve road safety in the area and to review speed limits to safe levels.
