Safe Speed Forums

I feel that I must write to you to outline my objections to the continued concentration on "speeding" and CSW by the Parish Council. I refer to the PC minutes of 15th August and the full page "advertisement" in the September edition of Steeple and Street.

Firstly, in my opinion, there is little or no problem with speeding in the village anyway so the time spent on this subject might be better directed elsewhere.

Secondly, CSW is a fundamentally flawed concept for reasons which I will outline below.

1. The CSW scheme is simplistic as it can only report people who, allegedly, have exceeded the speed limit. No mention is made of the prime issue which is safety. It is possible to be acting in a dangerous manner while below the limit or be perfectly safe at over the posted limit (which may well be improperly set).

In my opinion, the parking outside the school in Common Road in the morning and afternoon is far more of a hazard then someone marginally over the limit on the wider A27 which has good sightlines.

2. As I understand it, vehicles said to be exceeding the speed limit on repeated occasions may be reported to the local police for possible further action. Clearly, those repeatedly recorded will most likely be local people as these will be the only ones using the roads regularly. Will volunteers really report their next door neighbours or their friends? Not very communitaire is it? Setting one villager against another is not what is needed.

I seem to recall that when the police used a mobile enforcement camera in the village most people caught marginally over the limit were locals and some of them were taking their children to school or elsewhere.

3. CSW is a fair weather activity. Who is going to volunteer to stand outside at 11:00 pm on a cold and wet night in December to monitor the handful of cars which come along at that time of night? Maybe the supporters of CSW only think inappropriate speed is dangerous on nice summer days.

In summary, these CSW schemes were invented as a sop to pacify residents who persistently bother the police (and Councillors) with vague claims of "speeding" where there is little issue. They are a waste of time and I would discourage people from taking part.

Turning to CATG, you ask if there is anything which would make things easier in Whiteparish. I am not sure that these are within the remit of CATG but the three things which would, in my opinion, help the village are:

- An off-road parking area outside the school in Common Road.
- Parking provision near the Village shop.
- Resurfacing of the huge potholes in Common Road near the surgery.

I hope that these notes will be of interest even if they are in opposition to the Parish Council's usual views.

The only amusing thing about that letter is the thought of your foolish smugness after sending it and the laughter of those receiving it.