Blitz on speeding motorists

Speeding motorists across Carmarthenshire are being gunned down by the Community Safety Partnership.

Following county-wide speeding issue complaints at PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meetings the Carmarthenshire Road Safety Action Group has acquired three additional speed camera guns.

Action group member and Carmarthenshire council deputy leader Cllr Pam Palmer said: “We have taken this action to address priorities set at local PACT meetings.

“Speeding remains a very real problem for people in some parts of the county and these extra portable devices will enable officers to target all or any roads where problems have been identified.”

Community Safety Officer PC Robert Chapman said the hand held speed guns had already been used in Llanelli, Burry Port, Ammanford and Carmarthen and booked out by officers at short notice in Llangennech and at school and park sites like Pantyffynnon.

He said: “The portable devices enabled neighbourhood police teams to evaluate community speeding issues, carry out speed awareness and enforcement campaigns, at short notice.

“They have been used 21 times over 37 days in Carmarthen resulting in nine fixed penalties notices which carry a £60 fine and driving licences being endorsed with three penalty points. Eight of the drivers elected to attend speed awareness courses and because of excessive speed one driver had been summonsed to court.”

In Burry Port there were no returns. PC Chapman said this was a good thing in his eyes. “The speed checkpoints had clearly acted as a deterrent there. But he warned they could pop up at any time, anywhere, so drivers needed to obey speed restrictions in place everywhere to avoid being caught out.”

In Llanelli and Ammanford drivers were spoken to for exceeding 20mph limits.

Fifty vehicles were checked and seven stopped in Pantyfynnon Road near a park. The drivers were invited to accept a fixed penalty £60 fine or speak to children. All drivers spoke to the children apologised.

County executive board member for transport Colin Evans said: “I make no apology for this tough course of action against speeding motorists. Residents have voiced their concerns. We are responding to stamp out dangerous and inconsiderate driving behaviour across the county.”