A WILTSHIRE community has launched its own campaign to tackle speeding in the village – which they say has reached ‘epidemic proportions’.

Laverstock & Ford Parish Council launched its inaugural Community Speedwatch this month, after a long process to set up the initiative.

Community Speedwatch (CSW) schemes see residents volunteer to be trained in using speed guns to monitor drivers in a designated village or town.

And, after some initial set-backs that saw parish council vice-chair Laura Jones pledge to “get it done”, volunteers met with PCSOs Geanina Tablet and Jenni Moss, for their first trial of monitoring a stretch of road in Ford.

Cllr Jones said: “Although it has been a challenge getting started, it has proved more than worth it.

“Residents who are willing to volunteer a small amount of time each week now have the chance to help monitor speeds with state-of-the-art speed detection equipment in their own community.”

Volunteers with the PCSOs in Ford during the first Speedwatch session

The group took part in an hour-long session, and welcomed thanks from drivers.

“The Roman Road through Ford is one of our chosen spots for a Speed indicator Device and last month’s figures show that one car drove through on a weekday afternoon at over one hundred miles per hour,” Cllr Jones added.

After carrying out CSW sessions, volunteers report drivers exceeding the speed limit to the police with the aim of educating drivers to slow down.

PCSO Jenni Moss, who supported the group, said: “While Community Speedwatch is not speed enforcement – this can only be conducted by trained and qualified police staff – it is the next best thing, and we have heard so many people this morning talk about how worried they are by the amount of people who are driving cars at speed through residential areas.

“It’s been great to chat with so many people this morning about community safety in which community speed watch plays an important role.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about volunteering for the Laverstock & Ford Community Speedwatch team can contact Cllr Jones via laurajones@laverstockford-pc.gov.uk.