Residents breaking the speed limit are ‘not respecting their community’, an Isle of Wight councillor has said.
Green Party representative Claire Critchison has urged people to take part in neighbourhood speed watching and would like to see 20 mile per hour limits in both the Niton and Whitwell village centres.
Three hotspots
The council member for Chale, Niton and Shorwell said speeding is the issue most frequently raised by residents who ‘so badly’ want to ‘see something done’, when she spoke at Niton and Whitwell Parish Council last week.
“Our options are very limited. The police can’t be there enough – I’ve requested them again to come to Whitwell – Kemming Road and the High Street – and Blackgang Road in Niton. They are three hotspots I get asked for continuously.”
Case for speedwatch
Councillor Critchison said having speedwatch data would result in a better chance of an intervention.
Concerns over safety
But Councillor Chris Ould said a lot of people don’t want to get involved, warning of ‘abuse’ and ‘confrontation’.
He told parishioners of a police officer who pulled over two drivers in the area and had to ‘radio for help’. He said,
“They got pretty shirty about being stopped.
“They were both arrested and taken away. The public shouldn’t be subject to that. That’s why people don’t sign up.”
Flexible commitment
Councillor Critchison said speed watching can happen as much as a group want, whether it be every week, month or twice a year.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
