Gloucestershire Echo - April 28th 2012
POLICE have vowed to crack down on dangerous drivers – after worried residents called them in to stop the problem.
Reckless motorists have been targeted by traffic officers and villagers on a dangerous stretch of road running through Alderton.
People power has persuaded police to step in and clamp down on the problem. Villagers collected data during the last 12 months before passing the details of the motorists on to officers.
It is the latest example of residents in the county stepping up to do their bit to deter speeding motorists.
Traffic officers mounted a high visibility operation to tackle dangerous driving on the road in March after being approached by residents.
The villagers have been left fearful of leaving their own driveways onto the B4077 with a number of near misses as motorists roar over the central white line in the road at excessive speeds. Now they are calling for the limit to be cut in half to help prevent more accidents.
Sue Liggert, 54, runs Winchcombe Caravan and Camping Club along Stow Road.
She said: "There have been quite a few near misses along here.
"It is an accident waiting to happen.
"The best thing would be to cut the speed limit in half, ideally down to 30mph."
Jim Hinder, who lives in Frampton Cottages, said the small road blighted by the traffic problems.
Mr Hinder, 43, has lived in the road for six years and says he worries every time his wife leaves for work each morning.
"We are a small community living by a fairly busy road and the general consensus of opinion across the neighbours is that this is a hazard," he said.
Residents are often confronted by swearing motorists who bomb down the road at more than 60mph, almost hitting cars coming out.
Acting police sergeant Richard Davis, from the roads policing unit, said he was amazed by some of the actions of motorists when he went up to see the problem area for himself.
"The speed limit is 60mph but you have people speeding over that and going across the central line," he said.
"They are going very fast over the brow of a hill but are not paying attention. It is happening on a daily basis.
"Every time residents pull out of their drives they are throwing a dice."
A national campaign called Community Speed Watch, which sees the police, fire service, parish councils and county councils working together with local residents, is being rolled out around the county.
Mr Davis said: "We need the support of residents.
"I'm just there to be a visible presence.
"Residents have been coming up with good ideas which we will take to the county council's highways department."
Mr Hinder said the simplest solution would be to have road signs warning drivers to slow down. Other areas which have been monitored for speeding culprits recently include Malvern Road in Cheltenham.
And in Prestbury, villagers have been preparing to tackle fast drivers themselves – armed with speed guns.
POLICE have vowed to crack down on dangerous drivers – after worried residents called them in to stop the problem.
Reckless motorists have been targeted by traffic officers and villagers on a dangerous stretch of road running through Alderton.
People power has persuaded police to step in and clamp down on the problem. Villagers collected data during the last 12 months before passing the details of the motorists on to officers.
It is the latest example of residents in the county stepping up to do their bit to deter speeding motorists.
Traffic officers mounted a high visibility operation to tackle dangerous driving on the road in March after being approached by residents.
The villagers have been left fearful of leaving their own driveways onto the B4077 with a number of near misses as motorists roar over the central white line in the road at excessive speeds. Now they are calling for the limit to be cut in half to help prevent more accidents.
Sue Liggert, 54, runs Winchcombe Caravan and Camping Club along Stow Road.
She said: "There have been quite a few near misses along here.
"It is an accident waiting to happen.
"The best thing would be to cut the speed limit in half, ideally down to 30mph."
Jim Hinder, who lives in Frampton Cottages, said the small road blighted by the traffic problems.
Mr Hinder, 43, has lived in the road for six years and says he worries every time his wife leaves for work each morning.
"We are a small community living by a fairly busy road and the general consensus of opinion across the neighbours is that this is a hazard," he said.
Residents are often confronted by swearing motorists who bomb down the road at more than 60mph, almost hitting cars coming out.
Acting police sergeant Richard Davis, from the roads policing unit, said he was amazed by some of the actions of motorists when he went up to see the problem area for himself.
"The speed limit is 60mph but you have people speeding over that and going across the central line," he said.
"They are going very fast over the brow of a hill but are not paying attention. It is happening on a daily basis.
"Every time residents pull out of their drives they are throwing a dice."
A national campaign called Community Speed Watch, which sees the police, fire service, parish councils and county councils working together with local residents, is being rolled out around the county.
Mr Davis said: "We need the support of residents.
"I'm just there to be a visible presence.
"Residents have been coming up with good ideas which we will take to the county council's highways department."
Mr Hinder said the simplest solution would be to have road signs warning drivers to slow down. Other areas which have been monitored for speeding culprits recently include Malvern Road in Cheltenham.
And in Prestbury, villagers have been preparing to tackle fast drivers themselves – armed with speed guns.