Call for Neighbourhood Watch members to be equipped with speed guns

Gomersal branch coordinator Derrick Yates said people drive at significant speeds around residential areas and equipping citizens with the right tools was the best way to keep vulnerable people safe.

He said: “I’m trying to make North Kirklees as safe as possible to put it in basic terms.

“Speeding traffic in built up areas where there are schools, kids, and elderly and disabled people is dangerous.”

He said the police do not have the manpower to go out to enforce traffic laws and that fixed speed cameras are not up to the task because while they can take a photograph of a speeding vehicle they are not able to tell if the driver is involved in any other kind of crime.

“They can’t tell if they are up to no good, carrying drugs or stolen property, whereas Neighbourhood Watch, if we are trained up, can assist the police and go out if we hear complaints that a certain road is dangerous.”

He said there was a period in which four people died on local roads within 14 months.

Knowler Hill in Liversedge, Cliffe Lane, Church Lane and Listing Lane in Gomersal, and Church Road in Roberttown were identified as some of the worst spots but he said the problem was severe across the district.

“We are what it says on the tin – we are watching the neighbourhood and if we can help then that would be good.”