The idea
Help us to create a safer, respectful road environment for all of our community.
This project will enable the Storrington community to see their local people taking action as a result of excessive speeds observed on the A283 and B2139, through the town.
Over the 8 years that Storrington Community Speedwatch has operated as a voluntary group, average speeds have reduced by 3-4 miles per hour. Over the last 9 months, the impact of the covid 19 pandemic caused some drivers to increase speeds. We have responded to Sussex Police requests that we continue to provide our roadside sessions. To reduce this speeding yet further, and support community safety, we will recruit and train more volunteers to undertake more roadside sessions.
This will require an additional SL700 Laser Device to ensure we have sufficient equipment at any time, allowing for re-calibration and loan to other groups. We will canvas local people in affected areas to support our recruitment drive with advertising.
What we'll deliver
- We currently deploy over 30 sessions each week. With a second Laser Device, we can service over 40 sessions per week.
- 3 months of adverts in the Sussex Local Magazine in Storrington, reaching 6000 households.
- Purchase of a SL700 Laser Device
- Publish information articles in local newspapers and magazines
- We will recruit, train and support up to another 10 volunteers locally.
Why it's a great idea
Visible evidence of speed monitoring is recognised as reassuring for pedestrians, especially older people, parents with children and others who are in any way vulnerable. By drivers who go over the speed limit, our regular high profile presence acts as a reminder that the roads of Storrington and their speed limits should be respected.
Steps to achieving this:
• Negotiate support from the Parish Council in our overall project, including recruitment campaign
•Place adverts in local journals, Facebook groups and town website.
. Discuss with local people the work we do.
• Seek crowd funding from local donations, businesses and the local authorities
• Purchase SL700 through Police Procurement Service
• Provide training and support to new volunteers
• Deploy new, fuller rotas
• Review the resulting data
Report on the achievements
Steps to get it done
- • Agree support from the Parish Council for recruitment campaign Jan/Feb.
- Adverts in Sussex Local, Facebook groups and town website March - July
- • Posters on local notice boards February - July
- •Seek crowd funding from local donations, businesses and LAs March/April
- • Purchase SL700 device June
- Train new volunteers June/July
- • Deploy new rotas - August
- Review resulting data December
We are already in positive discussions with our Parish Council over assistance with advertising and recruiting volunteers. Our equipment is stored at the Parish Offices, and insured by them.
We already receive thanks and encouragement from local people while at our roadside sessions.
The Police believe that Speedwatch is the best visual indication to drivers of speed limits, and support us with their own roadside duties, and administration. All our records are submitted to the CSW on Line Sussex Police website for collation.
