Councillors slam Community Speed Watch scheme for not including 'dangerous' Bromsgrove road - The Bromsgrove Standard

Councillors slam Community Speed Watch scheme for not including 'dangerous' Bromsgrove road

Bromsgrove Editorial 14th Feb, 2017   0

TWO councillors have slammed Community Speed Watch for not doing anything to combat speeding in Stoke Heath which they claim is a growing problem in the area.

Worcestershire County Councillor Chris Bloore and Bromsgrove District Councillor Michael Thompson have spoken out about the way vehicles are driving along Wheatridge Road after being contacted about the issue by residents.

It follows on action they have taken in the Rock Hill and Bromsgrove South areas where a speed activation sign was installed, paid for by Coun Bloore’s divisional funds. That again followed complaints from residents who said they were concerned about the speed of cars approaching the brow of Rock Hill.

They created a local community speed watch group in the area but have been outraged when the Community Speed Watch Co-ordinator for West Mercia Police wrote to them rejecting their request for action to be taken on Wheatridge Road.




They were told to contact their Safer Neighbourhood Team instead.

Coun Bloore told The Standard: “I am astounded the Community Speed Watch group does not think Wheatridge Road is suitable.


“You only have to stand there to see speeding is a problem.”

Coun Thompson added: “Sadly, since becoming a councillor, this is the kind of crazy bureaucratic nonsense I’ve learnt to expect.

“There are all these groups that sound great – ‘Safer Bromsgrove’, ‘Community Speed Watch’, ‘Safer Neighbourhood Team’ – you scratch the surface and in the end they are all pretty ineffective. ”

The pair said have said they will be doing all they could to tackle the issue.

A spokesperson for the West Mercia Safer Roads Partnership, which runs the Community Speed Watch scheme, said: “Due to the nature of Wheatridge Road, it was found to be unsuitable for enforcement under the Community Speed Watch scheme.

“There isn’t enough good forward visibility on the road for volunteers to be able to safely monitor traffic.

“The local councillor was advised to speak to the safer neighbourhood team to see if this could be focused on by the local team.

“All requests for new enforcement sites must fulfil certain criteria, including health and safety issues and ensuring there is a safe and suitable location for enforcement to take place.”

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