Community Speedwatch Schemes grounded (Stone Liberal Democrats)

Stone Liberal Democrats <info@stonelibdems.org.uk>

Community Speedwatch Schemes grounded

April 17, 2006 11:15 AM

Barry Stamp is given a demonstration of a mobile speed gun

Stafford Borough Councillor Barry Stamp who has been leading a campaign to improve road safety on the A518 through Haughton and Gnosall has this week described as "sheer madness" the decision by Ofcom to ban the use of speed detection devices used by community speed watch groups.

Barry made the comment following the news that Ofcom had withdrawn its approval of the American made "Bushnell Velocity Speed Detection Devices" which were being used by volunteer speed watch groups throughout the country.

"Over the last two years "Community Speed Watch" volunteers have played a major role, not only in reducing traffic speeds on the A518 through Haughton and Gnosall, but also on roads in many other towns and villages in Staffordshire. During my time as County Councillor for Haughton and Gnosall I was pleased to fund the purchase of the equipment which allowed the scheme to get off the ground. Since that time the excellent work put in by the group of volunteers has certainly seen traffic speeds reduced."

"However in the last few days it has been announced that Ofcom have withdrawn their approval of the speed diction devices and they can no longer be used. It appears that the problem is not with the devices themselves, but rather with the radio frequency on which they operate. Ofcom, in a typical bureaucratic fashion have said that because the devices operate on a frequency reserved for police use they cannot be operated by members of the public! I can only describe this decision as sheer madness as this now puts every "Community Speed Watch" group in Staffordshire out of business. I have also been told that the cost of buying a replacement "approved" device is in the region of £900, which is over seven times the cost of the ones being scrapped, which just increases the pressure on these groups many of who raised their own set-up funding. I really would urge Ofcom to think again about this decision which will have a devastating effect on road safety," said Cllr Stamp.

Richard Stevens, Chairman of Stone Liberal Democrats, supported Barry's condemnation of the decision by Ofcom. "This decision effectively grounds every Speedwatch scheme in the country and renders useless equipment purchased by volunteers attempting to do something about speeding traffic in their own communities. Ofcom must reconsider this decision."