SCHOOL run commuters will be in the sights of police for the next month with a focus on Startforth.
This month’s Police And Communities Together (Pact) meeting made speeding on the A67 Bowes Road a force priority – with peak times in the morning coming under closer scrutiny.
Startforth’s Allan Royds vented his frustration with police and motorists last week for what he saw as a “crime wave” of speeding on the stretch out to Bowes.
He told the Pact meeting how Startforth Parish Council had earmarked errant motorists as a problem nine years ago – and feared it would get worse with the building of new houses.
Mr Royds said: “We are expecting 500 traffic movement increases on the A67 – how are you going to police this and a 20mph speed limit which will be put in by Durham County Council?
“You cannot police the speed limit there at the moment and it’s getting worse – the traffic in the village is going to increase tremendously when the new road goes in to the borstal.”
Volunteers have carried out several Community Speedwatch surveys on the A67 in the past 12 months.
Susan Dodgson and Stephen Beardsall caught 21 drivers exceeding the 30mph limit on the Bowes Road on one day in September – about ten per cent of vehicles passing.
A “PC Speedy” sign at the entrance to Startforth Park was installed last year before it was taken, but another has been erected in its place.
Mr Royds thought the problem was worse in the 40mph zone further up the A67 and wanted stronger action taken against offenders.
He said: “Nobody is getting pinched – the most frustrating thing is you get a £60 fine for parking because it’s easy.
“I feel that the constabulary are not looking at things that are difficult – including speeding. Since Startforth School closed I can assure you it’s the same people going up and back.”
PCSO Steve Richardson said he appreciated Mr Royds’ points but added there were limits to what the police could do with the resources it had.
He added that parking tickets were not issued by police and action would only be taken if an obstruction was being caused.
He also disagreed with Mr Royds’ argument that Startforth was the “forgotten land” and said people couldn’t be sure whether those breaking the speed limit were from either Cumbria or Teesdale.
Other Speed Watch volunteers were happy with the police for their swift action in other Teesdale villages – including PC Dave Williamson who won praise for booking two motorists in Ingleton.
Mr Beardsall defended the work of the Speedwatch team. He added: “In the two-and-a-half years I’ve been doing this we’ve seen a noticeable reduction in some places, including Gainford.
“I know some people have had two warning letters and I’ve no doubt some people have had three through.
“But it has slowed them down – particularly at the far end of Gainford towards Darlington.”
It was agreed speeding in Startforth would be made a priority and Speedwatch volunteers would survey the stretch.
