Milnrow & Newhey July 2021

NO NEED
FOR SPEED
By Councillor Andy Kelly
Regardless of who I speak to
and regardless of where they
live in the borough- speeding,
or more accurately, reckless
driving and endangerment
is on their list of urgent
concerns in the borough.
I must hold my hand up and say that I have had point endorsements on my driving
licence in the past, but I’m not talking about drivers who are insured and taxed and go
over the limit by 10mph.
I’m referring to those drivers who use our streets as racetracks at all hours of the day
and risk damage, injury and death to themselves and anyone who might get in the way.
This week an opposition Cllr took the opportunity to write to the Chief Constable, the
Police and Crime Commissioner and Central Government about the need for more fixed
penalty cameras. I both support and applaud this measure. But it simply does not go far
enough. It is not a silver bullet solution for what is in fact a multi layered problem.
What can you do to help?
1. VOLUNTEER
2021 will see a new Community Speed
Watch group being set up in Milnrow and
Newhey that if all goes to plan, will have
the authority to issue warning letters and
with GMP help, issue fines and penalty
points. It will need volunteers to come
forward and give of their time to operate
the speed guns. And there is no use in
pointing speed guns at quiet times during
the day, the Speed Watch Group will be running checks in the evenings,
at night-time and whenever they get reports of reckless driving. Will you give an hour
to help the team?
2. HELP BUILD UP THE INFORMATION
Your local councillors will keep lobbying for more police resources for our area, but often
it is crime reporting that gets the funding. You can report incidents of reckless driving
via the GMP website. Also, try and get descriptions of cars and where possible, their
registration plates. Even if they are stolen cars or false plates, the police need to build up
an evidence base of what is going on and if and where cars have been stolen from
or plates duplicated.
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