Volunteers needed for speed watch group in Bowerhill

VOLUNTEERS are being asked to join a Community Speedwatch group for Bowerhill following residents’ complaints about speeding and noise.  

Last year, residents were complaining of the speeding and noise of vehicles around Bowerhill and on Pathfinder Way. Cllr Nick Holder raised the issue at the Melksham Area Board Meeting in June on behalf of residents, asking Wiltshire Police’s chief constable, Catherine Roper, for support.

To crack down on the issue, the police increased their presence in the area using speed cameras; a traffic survey was also carried out, showing that Bowerhill qualifies for the introduction of a Community Speedwatch team, supported by the police.

The clerk of Melksham Without Parish Council, Teresa Strange, said, “MWPC is keen to find volunteers to set up a new Community Speedwatch team for Bowerhill; to join in the good work of the other teams operating across the parish in Beanacre, Shaw & Whitley and Woodrow.  

“Community Speed Watch
helps local people address speeding in their communities. Trained volunteers can only operate in areas where there is an identified speeding problem in 20, 30 or 40mph speed limits; and for Bowerhill this is on Pathfinder Way and outside Melksham Oak Community School.   

“All volunteers are trained by Traffic Man-agement Police officers and must comply with a code of practice. Community Speedwatch works as part of a suite of measures, including the flashing Speed Indicator Devices and local Police enforcement. If you are interested in volunteering for Bowerhill or any of the teams in the parish, please do get in touch.”