FOUR new volunteers have joined a Speedwatch team lauded as one of the best in the county.
Toft Hill and Etherley’s Speedwatch group was established in 2016 in response to concerns about the number of vehicles speeding through the villages.
The group has since gone on to buy its own equipment, allowing operations to be carried out whenever it suits members rather than having to rely on the availability of police kit. After a hiatus due to the Covid-19 restrictions, co-ordinator Janet Balmer, a member of Etherley Parish Council, said the group was ready to resume its work.
“Four new volunteers means we can have four teams that will be able to go out and do Speedwatch operations on a fairly regular basis,” she told colleagues at June’s parish council meeting.
“We will report back on how many and how often.”
Cllr Balmer said that due to the ongoing Covid situation, volunteers were unable to access Bishop Auckland Police Station to process the data collected during operations.
However, she said PCSO Lauren Field had agreed to help and send out letters to motorists who have been caught exceeding the 30pmh speed limit.
“I have asked Lauren to send the information to Alison [Overfield, clerk of Etherley Parish Council] so we have a continuing record. It is evidence of the problems we have.”
Cllr Balmer added: “Hopefully you will see us out and about in the coming weeks.
“Everyone is raring to go and hopefully we will help calm some of the traffic problems we have in the villages at the moment.”
Councillors were told PCSO Iain Osborne, who had helped support the Speedwatch group when it was set up, had now left the neighbourhood police team and was not being replaced.
In addition, PC Scott Crowhurst, another member of the Bishop Auckland villages police team, remains on office-based duties. Cllr Gary Siddle said the parish council should lobby Durham’s new police and crime commissioner, Joy Allen, to seek a replacement for Mr Osborne.
Councillors also agreed to write to Insp Andy Reeves at Bishop Auckland Police.
