Speed watch group spots 25 drivers flouting limit in hour
A total of 25 people have been caught speeding on a Bath road known for its “frequent near misses”.
The drivers seen going too fast on Bloomfield Road were spotted over the course of an hour on Wednesday, August 11.
Julie Ingerfield, who has lived there for three years, has set up a community speed watch group in partnership with the police, to crack down on speeding.
The 73-year-old said: “Our issue is that we have seen egregious speeding, even though we are in a 20mph zone. We want to make the road safer, not reduce traffic.
“In our first session, we clocked 25 people going at 40 or 50mph, some even 60mph, on Bloomfield Road.
“Our road is an access road for schools at either end, and there is no pavement along a stretch of it. There are also two major cycling facilities, the Odd Down BMX track and the cycle path, at either end.
“There have been frequent near misses due to an inadequate number of pedestrian crossings.”
Avon and Somerset Police supplies the speed monitor and then residents need a minimum of four people to participate in each session.
They take down the number plate, make, and model of each car caught breaking the limit and pass this information on to the police.
Depending on the level of the speeding and the drivers’ history, reports made by the community speed watch could result in fines or prosecutions.
Watchers are required to complete online training and an hour-long practice session at the roadside before they start recording.
Julie set up a residents’ association in October and soon asked for volunteers to help with the speed watch.
“We put out a call to our members and 23 people volunteered.
“We started on the upper Bloomfield Road and plan to have a team out twice a week, with a second team launching soon.
“We are serious about this. We have already caught a number of drivers speeding and four times as many people cut their speed on seeing us.
“Just being there serves a purpose. Hopefully the numbers will go down as people become aware that we are out there,” she said.
Many people have seen news of the Bloomfield Road speed watch circulating on Facebook and have been keen to set up their own.
Anyone interested should contact their neighbourhood policing team or go to the Community Speed Watch page on the police website.