'Bellyachers' urged to help tackle A68 speeding at Toft Hill

RESIDENTS who spent years “bellyaching” about speeding traffic through their village are being urged to get out and support efforts to tackle the problem.
A community speedwatch scheme was established in Toft Hill and Etherley last August with the support of the local parish council and police.
However, the initiative has attracted little support from residents, Etherley Parish Council was told.
Cllr Janet Balmer, who is speedwatch co-ordinator, said only two other people were involved – one of whom is fellow parish representative Stephen Hugill.
The future of the initiative was discussed at January’s meeting.
Cllr Balmer said: “It’s been down to just two of us doing it once a fortnight when we have been available.
“Considering the number of complaints about speeding, there are no volunteers coming forward.
“It’s not going to be sustainable. Three people can’t be the only ones to rely on.”
Chairman Cllr Paul Ryman added: “People have come to us for years bellyaching about speeding and now we are looking for volunteers no one is coming forward.”
Concerns were also raised that police were planning to withdraw their support for, and attendance at, speedwatch operations from this month, leaving the volunteers to run them on their own.
Cllr Ryman said: “The chief constable and local inspector gave a firm indication that volunteers would be supported until comfortable.”
Clerk Alison Overfield said an email from Sgt Adam Howell reassured members that police would continue to support the volunteers.
However, he cautioned against the parish council buying their own speed gun and matrix board until the scheme was “well established and likely to continue”.
Cllr Balmer said four speedwatch operations had been organised since the project was launched, the most recent of which had been carried out without police attendance because no officers were available.
She said that while she had been offered the use of a speed gun, she had opted not to use it, favouring the larger matrix board, which flashes up the speed of vehicles.
However, since the last operation, she said she had taken part in a trial with the speed gun.
“I had a go with the gun, and it’s easy to use once it is set up, but it is not easy to set up,” she said.
Having now used it, Cllr Balmer said she preferred the matrix board.
“The speed gun is very confrontational and has little effect for more than 15 minutes because cars are flashing each other as they are going through the village.”
She asked whether members thought the speedwatch group should be catching people speeding or educating them.
Cllr Gary Siddle said education was the way forward.
“The best way is to have the matrix,” replied Cllr Balmer.
The meeting was told another speedwatch operation involving the small band of volunteers and police was due to be held this week.
For more details about the speedwatch scheme, or to volunteer, contact clerk Alison Overfield by email etherley
pc@btinternet.com