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downsmail.co.uk
Speedwatch traps more drivers Improving road safety in village
A REVISION to rules governing neighbourhood Speedwatch schemes means more motorists are being trapped for falling foul of the law.
Information from parish schemes
has been collated – and drivers caught in the fast lane in one or more villages can now find them- selves on the police “radar”. East Farleigh has had a marked success in pulling up drivers racing through the village, with 19 warn- ing letters sent to motorists as a re- sult of just one day’s Speedwatch in March. Peter Beasley told the annual
parish meeting that, of the 19 let- ters, two were for a second detec- tion and 17 were for excessive speed. Warning letters are only sent out
to drivers found to be driving at more than 50% above the desig- nated limit, whichwould be 45mph in a 30mph zone. Mr Beasley said: “This is signifi-
cantly more than a year ago, when we would have had to catch some- one two or three times in the same parish before they got a warning letter. “It would have taken us a whole
year to achieve this kind of result. “Now, someone caught speeding
in East Farleigh then again in, say, Yalding, could find they are in re- ceipt of such a letter from the po- lice.” Mr Beasley said Dean Street was
a notorious hot spot for speeding motorists – and, surprisingly, not at the expected peak times. He said: “We have found that drivers speed up after 9am and 6pm – and on Sundays.” Hewarned that in future, Speed-
watch volunteers would be on the lookout for drivers who flouted the law at all times of the day, as well as evenings andweekends.
New look for
street pastors MAIDSTONE street pastors are wearing a new kit, thanks to a Maidstone Lions. A “significant donation” from
the Lions paid for five uniforms – jackets, polo shirts and caps. The street pastors, who volun-
teer on the streets of Maidstone and alongside the Urban Blue Bus to help those in need of support, are pictured modelling the uni- forms with some of the Lions. They are pictured together at
the Blue Bus in Jubilee Square. Nigel Downes, co-ordinator for Maidstone street pastors, said: “Thanks to Maidstone Lions for their generosity in assisting us with these new uniforms. We have some new volunteers who
will feel great in this new kit.” Mr Downes said he wished to
thank Lion Peter Hooper for all his help with the project. To find out more about the
work of Maidstone Lions visit
www.maidstonelions.org.uk
TRAFFIC calming measures could soon be introduced to East Farleigh. The parish council is looking atways to reduce traffic speeds, including vil-
lage centre schemes, which County Cllr Paulina Stockell has offered to fund. She has already paid for white lines along Lower Road from her member budget and has offered to finance a future scheme. White lines at the end of Forge Lane, where it joins Dean Street, have been
extended half a metre into the junction. Unfortunately, they should have been extended by ametre and the council iswaiting for this to be rectified. In the village plan, residents wanted to see improved safety on East Far-
leigh Bridge and Cllr Darren Riches has been working on a safety scheme. The parish council is expected to authorise an independent traffic survey to look at possible measures which could be implemented.
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