Page 8 - Frittenden Parish Mag - November 2021

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Tackling entered into the Kent Police database, at which were able to carry
out regular speed
point its tax, insurance and MOT status can also
be checked. A warning letter is sent from Kent
checks in Frittenden.
speeding Police following the second observation, or first However, neither
if the vehicle was logged travelling at 45 mph
the funds nor the
within a 30mph speed limit. (The scheme also
resources for either
or wasting operates in locations where 20mph and 40mph of these options
limits are in operation and similar parameters
are available, so the
only current weapon
are applied.) If a vehicle is recorded as speeding
time? on four occasions, the registered owner against speeding
in our armoury
receives a visit from Kent Police, who deliver
this fourth letter in person and any further
is Speedwatch.
observations of the same vehicle speeding then
Nicky Vernon lead to targeted enforcement by the police. I have to admit
that some people’s
There are currently 150 schemes operating attitude towards
Frittenden has been part of the national across Kent, so if a vehicle is spotted consistently Speedwatch
Community Speedwatch initiative since May exceeding the speed limit not only in Frittenden, really does baffle
2015, when Janet Croucher put in a great but also other towns and villages throughout the me. Since the
deal of time and effort to get the scheme up county, there is quite a high chance that they will scheme first
and running in our village. As the official be ‘on the radar’ of Kent Police. Indeed, in the started, numerous
equipment which records vehicle speeds is last month alone, the details of 4,115 speeding volunteers across benefit from a more official reminder from
expensive, the decision was made to purchase vehicles throughout Kent were inputted to their the country have been the subject of abuse by Kent Police. The highest speed recorded in
it jointly with Sandhurst, so we are able to data base. In addition to this, the scheme is also passing motorists, to the extent that there is now Frittenden during a Frittenden Speedwatch
carry out Speedwatch in Frittenden every active in numerous other counties. It is very an additional column on the log sheet where session to date is 61 mph, whilst speeds in
other fortnight for a two-week period. Tony much a ‘joined up’ national scheme working in details of any abuse received by volunteers excess of 50mph are sadly not uncommon.
Staples took over the organisation of the partnership with multiple police forces, so its is noted. Even within the village, we have So, if anyone feels that they would like to help us
scheme from Janet in July 2019 and there are ability to identify habitual offenders nationwide occasionally been met with a degree of hostility, in our fight against speeding, please do contact
currently 10 volunteers who provide Tony with is actually far greater than most people which again I find confusing. A decision was Tony whose details are on the inside cover of
our availability when requested, don our high realise. Although Speedwatch was unable to made to schedule some Speedwatch sessions the magazine. Even if you were only able to
vis jackets, set up the equipment and do our operate during the height of the pandemic, a to coincide with the primary school drop off offer one or two hours of your time each month
best to remind motorists to check their speed total of 112, 261 speeding vehicles were still and pick up times in order to protect pupils, (a single session lasts one hour) it really would
when travelling through our lovely village. recorded at sites across the country last year. yet as a result of this, some parents accused help. Several volunteers (myself included)
volunteers of deliberately targeting them… That aren’t always available for many sessions
I’m very aware that Speedwatch volunteers I’ve been a member of our village Speedwatch
are frequently regarded as well-meaning, but team since it was first set up over six years said, I would hope that attitudes such as these each fortnight, so a larger pool of volunteers
ultimately pretty ineffectual individuals since, ago. I felt very strongly then (as I still do now) represent a minority of people, since surely it is for Tony to draw from would be incredibly
unlike members of the police force, we are that far too many people were travelling at in everyone’s interests to slow down speeding helpful. We may not be able to issue penalty
unable to issue penalty notices to speeding dangerous speeds throughout the village and motorists and make the village a safer place. notices, but by entering the details of speeding
motorists. That said, the vast majority of wanted to do something to try and address this. It goes without saying that if Tony had a larger vehicles onto a central police data base, we are
people are simply not aware of how the scheme It would be fantastic if we had sufficient funds team of volunteers to draw from, we would be able to make a difference. If I thought that
works and the success that it has had operating to install permanent traffic calming measures able to operate far more sessions each month. standing at the side of the road in an oversized
in locations across the country to date. such as speed humps in the heart of the village, This would subsequently enable us not only high vis jacket in all weathers was a waste of
or even a proper vehicle activated speed sign to remind more people of the speed at which time, I honestly wouldn’t bother to do it!
When a vehicle is observed travelling at 35 mph which showed drivers their actual speed (rather they are travelling more frequently, but also to
or more within a 30 mph speed limit, its details than our very irritating one which flashes 30 record the speeds of those who do regularly We welcome your comments to:
are noted and at the end of each session, they are frittendenparishmagazine@gmail.com
regardless!) It would be better still if Kent Police exceed the speed limit and who really would
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