Police reject Betws council’s speeding claims (From South Wales Guardian)

Police reject Betws council’s speeding claims

10:00am Monday 23rd July 2012 in News

CLAIMS by Betws councillors that their village is plagued by speeding motorists are at odds with the findings of local police, it has emerged.

Two PCSOs monitoring the speed of vehicles near Betws Park have told community councillors the vast majority of passing drivers observed the speed limit.

Their comments came after councillors complained again about speeding vehicles in Maesquarre Road and Betws Road.

“The situation in Betws Road is terrible,” commented Cllr Maldwyn John. “A car went down there the other night and I could smell its tyres, it was braking so hard.”

PCSO Sharee Treharne said that, along with fellow PCSO Sophie Lambert, she had stop-checked 35 cars with a speedgun – and was surprised to find only two had exceeded the 30mph limit.

“I thought a lot more would be speeding until I looked at the reading on the speedgun,”

she said. “It seems to be perceived speed that is causing concern.”

Cllr Annette Price argued cars regularly broke the speed limit outside Tout’s Garage and Cllr Anne Sizmur agreed culprits were not always caught. She added: “Unfortuanately, neither cameras nor police officers can be there 24 hours a day,”