SPEED GUN ARMY (From Warrington Guardian)

SPEED GUN ARMY

ORDINARY people could soon be armed with speed cameras across Warrington.

The community speed watch system is being rolled out throughout the borough.

It lets volunteers catch speeding motorists and then send them warning letters.

No-one is prosecuted but, after a final warning letter, the driver's details are passed on to the road policing unit.

The system already operates in Lymm, Grappenhall, Risley and Birchwood now the police plan to extend due to its success.

But it has not all been plain sailing in Warrington.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Brian Axcell, ward member for Appleton where there has been a very successful Speed Watch scheme, said: "Speed Watch can be helpful -but sometimes the people doing it have been faced with abuse and anger from the people they have been checking up on."

Conservative leader Keith Bland, ward member for Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft, said: "I agree with Speed Watch in principle, but I don't honestly believe it is for the public to be operating speed cameras - that is my personal opinion.

"I honestly believe the police should be doing more."

No-one from Cheshire Police was available to talk about the issue.

Maurice Leslie of Stockton Heath Speed Watch said: "You do get some drivers who are slightly hostile but I wouldn't say there have been any particular incidents of aggression.

"I certainly wouldn't object to the scheme being introduced elsewhere providing enough people can be recruited, because that was the difficulty we had in here."