What is the purpose of volunteer led community speedwatch schemes?

Community speedwatch schemes were brought up for discussion at a meeting of Powys County Council’s Economy, Residents and Communities scrutiny committee on Monday, November 29.

Cabinet member for corporate governance and regulatory services, Councillor Beverley Baynham pointed out that a cycle safety campaign, suggested by the committee back in the summer, had taken place in September and coincided with the EDWARD (Each Day Without A Road Death) campaign.

Councillor Baynham added that a seasonal road safety campaign was now being devised and would be “rolled out to the public” soon.

Committee chairman Councillor Mathew Dorrance said that he had been on a speedwatch patrol that morning between 8.30am and 9.30am in a part of Brecon.

Councillor Dorrance said: “It’s a 30mph zone on Pendre in Brecon, cars coming through there doing in excess of 40 mph get a warning letter from Go Safe.

“How does that interface with the council’s highways team about speed calming measures to deal with the problem?

“It’s great having volunteers there with a device and high vis jacket for an hour a week but what change does that make and how does that inform our strategy?

“Because that is the gap I see at the moment, it’s great that the volunteers are prepared to do that work, but it doesn’t lead to actual tangible change.”

Councillor Jackie Charlton said that she took part in the EDWARD campaign and that she had community speedwatch volunteers who needed training so that they could join the patrol.

Councillor Baynham said: “I have had the same issue in my ward, and I know Covid has delayed the training.”

Councillor Charlton said: “Volunteers do need training and how can we as an authority assist supporting them?”

She believed that it was not just volunteers for speedwatch who need to have help accessing training, but a number of other programmes including flood wardens.