A plan to explore the use of ANPR cameras or a formal Community Speed Watch scheme has been approved after a lively debate among councillors over cost, volunteers and police involvement.
Members of Cullompton Town Council agreed at their meeting on Thursday, February 26 to look into introducing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) equipment or establishing a Community Speed Watch (CSW) group in the town.
The discussion followed a report setting out how a CSW scheme would operate, the minimum requirement of four trained volunteers and the range of equipment available, including a radar gun, ANPR camera or Speed Indicator Device (SID).
The report recommended that the council support, in principle, the establishment of a CSW scheme and identify key locations where vehicle speeds are affecting residents and road safety .
Opening the debate, town council clerk Dan Ledger said previous attempts to establish a scheme had struggled due to a lack of volunteers.
He said: “Since I came to Cullompton Town Council one of the very first agenda items that came to the town council was the establishment of gaining volunteers for a community speedwatch and that it was proving problematic getting volunteers.”
He told members that gathering robust data would be essential if the town wanted more enforcement support.
Mr Ledger said: “The only way to achieve gaining additional resource is to provide statistics and data to Devon County and the police so we can highlight particular hotspots where there are issues and hopefully if we have the evidence backing behind us we can then lobby for additional resources in those identified problem areas if there are any.”
Cllr Chris Snow questioned whether the town council should be spending public money if Devon County Council and the police could take the lead.
He said: “We’re looking to pay out tax payer’s money. Should we not look to county council with the addition of the police to look at certain areas of the town.
“We know our problem areas, so we could use the resources of county and the police rather than our own resources.”
Cllr Emma Buczkowski voiced support for a community-led approach, particularly if it engaged younger residents.
She said: “I like the idea of a community speedwatch, particularly if you can use it at schools and local youth clubs getting involved and using that hard impact of children talking to drivers.”
Referring to Speed Indicator Devices, she added: “I like smiley face signs and driving up to them and make them smile as I drive through. It always cheers me up if I can make them smile as opposed to a cross face.”
However, she said her preferred option would be to pursue more active Community Speed Watch sessions and suggested any smiley face signs should wait until the 20mph consultation process had concluded.
Cllr Mike Thompson reminded the meeting that speed checks had already taken place in the town in recent years.
He said: “For the benefit of those who don’t know, there is already a speedwatch in Cullompton. And they’ve been doing speed checks in Tiverton road with PCSOs and volunteers. They’ve done them on Swallow Way and the Willand Road as well.”
Cllr James Buczkowski said he believed those sessions were often organised by a co-ordinator from Willand rather than a Cullompton-specific group, highlighting the need for a dedicated local structure.
Cllr Dan Milner spoke strongly in favour of the proposal and said the council should be seen to take a proactive role.
He said: “I think it’s a fantastic idea and the council should be seen to be helping enforce the speed in the town, I think it’s a proactive thing for the council to do.”
He added: “This isn’t something that’s going to be brand new for the UK. This is done all over the UK and it’s very effective and it would be a shame if the council didn’t support it.”
Cllr Milner also offered to act as group co-ordinator if a scheme went ahead.
Following the debate, Cllr Milner proposed that the council look into ANPR or a Community Speed Watch scheme. The proposal was approved by members .
Under national guidance, Community Speed Watch schemes allow trained volunteers to monitor speeds at police-approved sites, with details of offending vehicles passed to the police for follow-up action.
