New community speedwatch scheme launched in King’s Lynn

Residents fed up with speeding drivers are set to carry out speed checks.

Members of the B1144 Action Group have succeeded in getting a lorry ban reinstated on the road from Tennyson Avenue to Vancouver Avenue, in King's Lynn, subject to a six-month consultation.

Now they are being trained to operate a speed gun, in a bid to make drivers slow down.

'Despite our success in getting pledges to reinstate the 7.5 tonne lorry ban on the stretch of road from Vancouver Avenue through to Tennyson Avenue, we still have concerns about speeding along this route,' said speedwatch co-ordinator Alan, who asked for group members' surnames not to be publicised.

'A few weeks ago, the police came on a speed check late on a Sunday evening on Vancouver Avenue. They stopped nine for further enforcement and warned many others.' Drivers caught exceeding the 30mph hour limit by volunteers are not prosecuted but will receive warning letters.

But volunteer Roger said if more than 11 a month were caught that would trigger action from police.

'We're determined we're going to catch 11 people a month,' he said. Resident Lesley said: 'I see what one assumes to be speeding cars but it would be good to know if people actually are speeding.'

Mum Caroline said she would not let her children, aged 11 and nine, walk to school on their own.

Alan added: 'There has been a community speedwatch operating on Vancouver Avenue for some months. When that happens, we catch 11 in the first 10 minutes.'

As volunteers donned hi-vis fluorescent jackets and took turn with the radar gun, drivers appeared to be toeing the line as they came into view.

'I bet they're flashing their lights,' said one volunteer. 'When they get round the corner they're flashing their lights to warn them. That's illegal.'

Community speedwatch began 10 years ago in Norfolk. The county now has 70 teams who are overseen by police and issued with radar guns, jackets and warning signs.

Norfolk police say it is not possible to carry out enforcement checks in every community which requests them.

They say that average speeds have fallen in communities elsewhere which have operated similar schemes.