VOLUNTEERS are needed in a village on the Herefordshire border which is trying to solve speeding by taking matters into their own hands.

There is concern that drivers in the village are flouting the 30mph speed limit on the B4355 between Presteigne and Knighton.

So, Presteigne and Norton Town Council said Dyfed-Powys Police PCSO Anna Bowen was looking for volunteers for the Norton Community Speedwatch group.

Volunteers get training, and then they can commit as much or as little as they want to the scheme, the town council said.

The village, which lies on the Herefordshire border near Presteigne, has been trying to tackle the problem for several months, council minutes show.

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With efforts to set up a community speedwatch group thwarted by Covid lockdowns and restrictions, is it now hoped progress can be made.

The national initiative sees communities, in partnership with police, use detection devices to monitor local vehicle speeds.

The volunteers report drivers over the speed limit to the police with the aim of educating drivers to slow down.

If the data proves a driver is ignoring repeated warnings, the police can prosecute them.

The aims are to reduce death and injury, improve the quality of life for communities, reduce the speed of vehicles to the limit and increase public awareness of "inappropriate" speed.

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"Community Speedwatch does not result in prosecution itself," the town council said.

"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."

At a meeting on February 16, Coun John Wilding had asked that the clerk Tracey Price write to Powys County Council to request permanent flashing speed indicator signs for Norton.

Similar devices had recently been installed in Penybont and Bleddfa.

Minutes of the meeting show that should the request be successful, further signs would be requested for Presteigne in due course.