A new community-led initiative to crackdown on road safety in Machen will focus on education rather than enforcement.
Machen Community Road Watch was launched on Friday March 11 at Machen Rugby Club, and follows on from similar schemes.
Machen Community Road Watch chairman Robert Evans said: “We have established fundraising officers, education officers with their own working groups, and they will be researching any opportunities that will help to improve road safety. This is a vital scheme for the community of Machen.”
The Speed Watch scheme involves residents capturing speed data using kit provided by Gwent Police, including a speed gun, digital display, high-visibility jackets and reflective pop-up signs.
Any speeding drivers will have letters sent to them, but repeat offenders may get harsher penalties.
Sergeant Steve Parsons, of Gwent Police, said: “This is an excellent initiative. It’s a way for the community to take a step forward and actually have a go themselves.”
Gwent Police and Crime and Commissioner, Ian Johnston, added: “This is a brilliant way of actually empowering people to do something about it in their own village or particular area. It’s all about communities coming together and getting involved.
“This allows people to check on speeding motorists themselves and reduces demand on the force during these times of shrinking budgets. When police officers attended these sites with a marked vehicle, there was no enforcement happening as word got around quicker than if the police were there.”
Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen Community Council were awarded £7,570 from Caerphilly County Borough Council and it was decided to use the entire amount on road safety improvements in Machen.
The fund will be used for the addition of road markings on the A468 – which is currently a 30mph zone – as well as on rumble strips near the Royal Oak junction and replacing the barrier outside Machen Primary School.
Cllr Hefin David, Chair of Caerphilly Council’s Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee, said: “Machen Community Roadwatch will do important work for residents in the village and I commend their group. I will be speaking to them about building relationships with other groups and finding support throughout our community.
“The Safer Caerphilly Partnership, which is a partnership between the council, the Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Gwent Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue and the National Probation Service, must be made aware of the Roadwatch campaign.
“One of Safer Caerphilly’s strategic objectives is to ‘ensure that people are supported to live in their own homes and communities in safety’ and I believe that this fits well with the Machen Roadwatch objectives.”