PETITIONERS’ calls for more anti-speeding operations to be carried on a Great Houghton road have been answered - but not one vehicle was found breaking the limit in a six-hour period.
Royston-based officers visited Rotherham Road in the village after a petition was lodged expressing concerns about the speed of traffic.
More than 30 letters were sent to Barnsley Council, whose tasking officer, Cath Fairweather, worked alongside police to carry out a speed check.
Cath said: “Several hundred vehicles were checked during six hours and it contradicts the petition letters, as not one was caught exceeding the limit.
“Officers feel it is more to do with people’s perception of speeds. For example, a HGV doing 30mph and the sounds it makes may appear to people walking by that it’s doing more than it is.”
However, despite the result, police will keep tabs on speeds in the village - and continue its work with Sandhill Primary School, whose children have taken part in some anti-speeding operations.
Coun Dorothy Higginbottom told the Chronicle that a community speed watch - which consist of local residents who are trained by police to use their speed guns to deter motorists from flouting restrictions - is something that could be implemented.
She said: “There are some maniacs who drive through the village and it’s a real problem. We’re looking at training volunteers up, so that’s something that’s definitely in the pipeline and we’ve already had interest in that.
“The police have worked with kids and that’s a very good thing as it puts off motorists from breaking the limit, but I’m as concerned as anyone and I’m petrified there will be an accident.
“All people can do is keep reporting their concerns. In many cases we can’t win as motorists often alert others heading towards the village that police are carrying out speed checks, but we’re determined to make it a safer place.”
