MORE than £10,000 is being spent to tackle speeding in St Leonards, St Ives and Ashley Heath.

St Leonards and St Ives Parish Council has agreed to purchase new Speed Indicator Devices and Auto Speed Cameras to install in the area.

It follows concerns raised by residents over speeding motorists, particularly in Horton Road, and a lack of active speed cameras.

The parish council discussed its options at a full council meeting on Wednesday, March 27, attended by Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick.

It was acknowledged that a long-standing speed camera on Horton Road was not actively filming.

The assistant clerk updated members on a survey undertaken, which indicated there were seven possible locations across St Leonards, St Ives and Ashley Heath which would benefit from a Speed Indicator Device (SID).

This would require the PC purchasing an additional two SIDs – something that was recommended by Mr Sidwick.

It was agreed that the two SIDs would be purchased at an estimated cost of £9,000, with an annual contract to service and relocated the SIDs agreed at £1,000.

It was also decided that the parish council would purchase two Auto Speed Cameras at £569 each.

Salisbury Journal: PCC David SidwickPCC David Sidwick (Image: OPCC)

Auto Speed Cameras are being rolled out by Dorset Police across the region as part of a new initiative to tackle speeders.

They work in the same way community speed watch volunteers do to catch motorists driving quickly.

Dorset Police has bought 12 new cameras which will work by capturing speeding vehicle registration plates and sending a warning letter to the speeders.

However, like those caught by community speed watch volunteers, if the vehicle is caught a second time speeding, the driver will face official police action.

These cameras will only be available to St Leonards and St Ives Parish Council once current testing and commissioning on the devices had been carried out elsewhere in Dorset.

At the same parish council meeting, Tony Burden, road safety manager at Dorset Council, also said that a 30mph speed limit would be considered for Horton Road.