A new Speed Watch Scheme is now and up running in the area with a particular focus on Knutsford Road.
Local residents complained to the police about speeding vehicles on Knutsford Road and Alderley Edge PCSO Jim Newns suggested to them setting up a speed watch scheme.
PCSO Newns explained "Speed Watch is a useful tool to combat those people who speed. I have seen first hand the positive results the scheme has had on the roads of Alderley Edge over the past year and it is great that Chorley Parish Council have purchased a speed gun and local people have volunteered their time to help run the scheme.
"There are speed indication devices on Knutsford Road Chorley but many people chose to ignore them. Speed watch gives motorists the reminder they need to watch their speed on our roads and reduce the risk of accidents or fatalities."
Motorists who are clocked travelling at an excessive speed by the volunteers are sent a warning letter, notifying them that if they are caught again, they could face a fine and three points on their licence.
If you are interested in volunteering for one of the schemes in Alderley Edge or Chorley please contact PCSO Jim Newns on 07948522130.
Volunteers give an hour of their time every couple of weeks and receive training prior to starting.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Getting civilians involved by allowing them to use speed / radar guns is just wrong.
If we had Police Officers (even these Police Community Support Officers) using speed detecting devices, then that is one thing, but to encourage non-paid civilians to do the work of officially appointed PC's or PCSO's is totally wrong !!!
Why don't we go really crazy and allow home owners to put Parking Tickets on cars illegally parked outside their house ?
Going down the slight hill there some vehicles must be doing 50mph and sometimes those accelerating away up from the mini roundabout sometimes it beggars belief - some drivers clearly think they are at Le Mans.
I know this because my office window looks out on the road and I have given up counting the number of "near misses" I have seen... The situation is certainly not helped by the number of cars choosing to park on the double yellow lines either.
It will just be a case of slamming on the brakes when the Green vest is seen then speeding up again afterwards. All rather pointless.
Why should we put up with this nonsense.
Only officially-appointed Police Officers should become involved with this type of policing !!
How many police would be needed to deter drivers who choose to ignore the law? Isn't it a citizen's duty to report lawbreaking? What better than to have it under police guidance? Apologies to all.. I have been caught myself even if it was for 32mph going up Macclesfield Road. Guilty. Warning noted.
Nearly twice as much damage is caused at 40mph than at 30mph. Ask a schoolboy, or girl of course; though they might want it in metric.
Is overstaying on a meter breaking the law or not ?
Is speeding in a 30mph breaking the law or not ?
By your own admission, you have broken the Law ?
So, are you prepared to accept "civilian law upholders" ?
I certainly am not and totally oppose these so-called do-gooders who get involved with this type of nonsense.
In my opinion, only properly trained Police Officers should be in a position to uphold the Law.
In the meantime, our objective is to make the drivers who travel at speeds of 35-50+ AWARE, and their initial warning letter can be effective, as in Colin's case. So please don't rush to be judgmental before talking to some of the victims and the many residents who live on the affected roads who welcome our presence.
David, if you are the one who told us that you were against ALL forms of volunteering, as they deprive people of work, maybe you would be prepared to fund the cost of more professionals ?
As far as my "funding the cost of more professionals" goes, most of us already do this by way of Council Taxes, as already explained.
If this Council sees fit to spend our money on numerous hair-brained schemes, such as the
millions of pounds spent, or should I say wasted, on the fiasco with the Waste Disposal Site in Macclesfield recently, then no wonder they have to rely on inexpensive (free) volunteers to do what should be done by highly-trained and well-paid Police Officers.
I have seen a motorist almost attack a lollipop lady because they had to stop for a few seconds to let children cross the road, not forgetting the disgusting behaviour shown towards the man helping children cross at the recent lights failure at the Tower Garage. People refuse to slow down for children on bikes so why do people in high Vis vests think anyone will change their habits because they have a speed gun pointed at their car.
I personally think speeding is getting worse. Last week I read of the tragic accident on the bypass, and read of numerous accidents on local roads and witnessed a serious crash in Lower Peover. We need the police not people in High Vis vests.
Firstly, this section is not where there are the worst problems on this road by a very long way. Just a few hundred yards further up towards the village there were cars double-parked, blocking both the road and the pavement (AESG pick-up time of course) and a little further down the road there are people making racing starts and stops to and from the mini roundabout.
Secondly, jumping up and down and waving your arms and gesticulating at passing traffic is neither sensible nor effective - it is merely distracting and dangerous.