Speeding drivers targeted by suburb residents

A CAMPAIGN group has been set up in a Yorkshire city to tackle the issue of drivers speeding in 20mph zones.

‘Chapel Allerton 20 is Plenty’ (CA20Plenty) group has formed in the north Leeds suburb to work with the police and council on reducing the speed of motorists driving through the suburb.

Residents were reporting problems in areas around Roxholme Grove, Gledhow Park Avenue, Woodland Lane, King George Avenue and Gledhow Lane as well as ‘rat runs’ through Henconner Lane and Avenue.

Bob Ward, a founder of the group, said: “Despite it being a 20mph zone, where people should observe 20mph as a maximum, some are travelling at 3040mph and even 60mph sometimes.”

He added: “Lots of children live around there. It’s a residential area, not a motorway. People should drive at appropriate speeds.”

The group now plans to work alongside the police in monitoring the top speeds of motorists to feed back to Leeds City Council and discuss further measurements – such as traffic calming– to help slow drivers down.

Pc Mark Rothery, of the Inner North East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said it was a known problem in the area.

“Most of Chapel Allerton is a 20mph zone and a lot of people don’t really realise that.

“We will be out in the community with the speed gun and delivering leaflets, making people aware and educating people.

“If it continues then we will probably have to start ticketing but that’s something we don’t really want to do at the moment.”

He added: “People need to adhere to the 20mph zone. There are schools nearby so children use the roads. We’re worried about children crossing the road or leaving their houses and running into the road. We don’t want a fatality.”