Speedwatch scheme awarded money by partnership

At the Chanctonbury County Local Committee (CLC) meeting on Wednesday November 30 members approved their application for Community Initiative Funding for £750.

Overall the cost of the speedwatch scheme is £3000, of which £2000 will be used for the purchase of a laser speed gun. CLC approved the £750 to go towards purchasing the high visibility jackets and other equipment.

As reported in last week’s County Times the parish council had already approved their proposal to set it up in the village.

The scheme is a partnership between the police, parish council and local volunteers. Their aim is to improve driver behaviour through education, resulting in improved road safety for all residents of Storrington.

Run by volunteers, who are trained by the police, they monitor the speed of cars and send the details to Sussex Police.

The police have said they will contribute officer time to train volunteers, risk-assess the sites to be used and will maintain the equipment.

The parish council has already granted the scheme £500 and the Community Partnership has agreed to match it.

The scheme has been very successful in East Sussex and was first established in Ringmer, Lewes over a decade ago.

There are currently thirteen active groups in East Sussex and many in other counties, but there are none in West Sussex.

West Sussex County Council traffic data shows that in April 2011, depending on the time of day, between 50% and 80% of vehicles exceeded the 30mph limit on all three of the main roads into and out of Storrington.