Crackdown on Shawbury speeders

A crackdown on speeding motorists is due to begin on a rural road in north Shropshire today after shock new figures showed two-thirds of drivers ignore the limit.

The operation is being launched on the B5063 Wem Road in Shawbury following concerns from residents that lives were being put at risk.

A new mobile speed enforcement site is being created in the village to encourage drivers to comply with the 30mph speed limit past the entrance to the RAF airbase.

The West Mercia Safer Roads Partnership has set up the scheme as part of its community concern programme, which was launched in 2009.

Data collected by partnership officials shows that there is a speed problem on Wem Road, where 68 per cent exceed the 30mph speed limit and 15 per cent travel above 39mph.

The new speed check site will be operational for an initial period of six months and data will be collected during this time to assess the impact of enforcement on speeds and driver behaviour.

It is hoped that a speed camera van will significantly reduce the number of speeding drivers.

Katy Jenkins, of the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, said: "Members of the local community have expressed their concern about the speeds of vehicles using this road and the potential danger they pose to other road users.

"We are launching speed enforcement in direct response to these concerns and it is hoped that the speed camera van will encourage drivers to comply with the speed limit."

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council member for Shawbury, said: "I am really pleased that enforcement action is now being taken."