Startforth Park’s Norman Mason had been looking after “PC Speedy” on a lamppost on the A67 when he found it had been snatched.
The parish council bought the £95 device over the summer to slow drivers coming down the hill into Startforth from Bowes. Its theft has been reported to the police. Mr Mason said the 6’2” device had proven its worth a number of times in the 40mph zone.
“It definitely worked – it worked at least 75 per cent of the time,” said Mr Mason.
“We found having it up here had a knock on effect further down because they’d already slowed down.
“People might think its just a bit of cardboard but it’s 90 quid.”
PC Speedy went missing at the entrance to Startforth Park between 12.30pm and 2.55pm on Monday, October 9.
Mr Mason said he heard a car revving its engine near his home that afternoon before it took off with its tyres screeching. PC Speedy had originally been installed further down the A67 in the 30mph stretch before being moved up the 40mph zone.
Cllr Pat Estall was surprised by the theft. He said: “It’s amazing that someone has got so annoyed to pull it down.
“I’d be very interested where it has got to.”
Parish chairwoman Sue Ellwood said the cut out was having a positive effect.
“It was amazing really – we were getting feedback from the community which was fantastic,” she added. “It was doing really well.”
Speeding is not a new problem in Startforth.
Mr Mason’s wife, Audrey, was a lollipop lady on the A67 for more than 30 years and lobbied the then MP Derek Foster to have the limit reduced from 60mph.
Rumble strips, an illuminated warning and static speed limit signs all greet motorists on entry into village from Bowes. Community Speedwatch volunteers have also been a familiar sight on the Bowes Road slope.
But Mr Mason said people ignored them all.
The 70-year-old added: “I have asked for hard policing to get some people caught and fined. Some deserve to lose their licence for coming down here at exorbitant speeds.”
The loss of PC Speedy comes as Durham County Council unveiled proposals to improve the A67 from Bowes to Barnard Castle with new prominent speed limit signs and landscaping.
Villager Sid Hall welcomed the move. The 88-year-old said: “I would love to see it. Very few of them obey the speed limit.
“Anything that calms traffic down is a good thing.”
However, his neighbour Leslie Frost had some doubts.
He said: “They could put 10mph, 20mph or 30mph but if people take no notice they could put anything they want up – there is just no enforcement. I am pleased they’ve taken some notice of it but it has taken some time.”
If you have any information about the whereabouts of PC Speedy, call police on 101.
“It definitely worked – it worked at least 75 per cent of the time,” said Mr Mason.
“We found having it up here had a knock on effect further down because they’d already slowed down.
“People might think its just a bit of cardboard but it’s 90 quid.”
PC Speedy went missing at the entrance to Startforth Park between 12.30pm and 2.55pm on Monday, October 9.
Mr Mason said he heard a car revving its engine near his home that afternoon before it took off with its tyres screeching. PC Speedy had originally been installed further down the A67 in the 30mph stretch before being moved up the 40mph zone.
Cllr Pat Estall was surprised by the theft. He said: “It’s amazing that someone has got so annoyed to pull it down.
“I’d be very interested where it has got to.”
Parish chairwoman Sue Ellwood said the cut out was having a positive effect.
“It was amazing really – we were getting feedback from the community which was fantastic,” she added. “It was doing really well.”
Speeding is not a new problem in Startforth.
Mr Mason’s wife, Audrey, was a lollipop lady on the A67 for more than 30 years and lobbied the then MP Derek Foster to have the limit reduced from 60mph.
Rumble strips, an illuminated warning and static speed limit signs all greet motorists on entry into village from Bowes. Community Speedwatch volunteers have also been a familiar sight on the Bowes Road slope.
But Mr Mason said people ignored them all.
The 70-year-old added: “I have asked for hard policing to get some people caught and fined. Some deserve to lose their licence for coming down here at exorbitant speeds.”
The loss of PC Speedy comes as Durham County Council unveiled proposals to improve the A67 from Bowes to Barnard Castle with new prominent speed limit signs and landscaping.
Villager Sid Hall welcomed the move. The 88-year-old said: “I would love to see it. Very few of them obey the speed limit.
“Anything that calms traffic down is a good thing.”
However, his neighbour Leslie Frost had some doubts.
He said: “They could put 10mph, 20mph or 30mph but if people take no notice they could put anything they want up – there is just no enforcement. I am pleased they’ve taken some notice of it but it has taken some time.”
If you have any information about the whereabouts of PC Speedy, call police on 101.
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