Rotherfield Parish Council has made an appeal for volunteers from the local community to restart the parish speedwatch initiative.
In a statement about highway safety across the parish, the council said it was hoping to restart the scheme which involves volunteers using speed detection devices to log motorists’ speeds. It said it was due to meet with Sussex Police, but any scheme would need volunteers.
A spokesperson said: “We are continuing our commitment to improving highway safety, transport infrastructure, and accessibility throughout the parish by working closely with East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police, local residents, and community partners.”
While responsibility for road management and maintenance rests with East Sussex County Council, the parish council said: “We play a vital role in identifying local concerns, gathering evidence, representing residents’ views, and advocating for improvements that enhance safety and quality of life.”
Appealing for volunteers it added: “One of our priorities is tackling speed and improving road safety. The speedwatch scheme would enable us to gather vital data to share with East Sussex Highways and Sussex Police. This evidence helps strengthen the case for traffic calming measures and targeted enforcement.”
Speedwatch volunteers receive training, and support from the neighbourhood policing team. They use detection devices to monitor local vehicle speeds and report drivers exceeding the speed limit to the police.
Community speedwatch does not result in prosecution itself. However, if a persistent speeding driver is identified through the scheme, police can use this evidence to take action against them. If required. If there is a persistent general speeding issue where highway improvements are required (eg speed bumps), the relevant agency will be contacted.
For more information contact Rotherfield Parish Council at https://rotherfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk/