A VOLUNTEER group in Fairford is ready to take to the streets in force in an effort to combat speeding motorists.

The Fairford Community Speed Watch team now has more than 30 members and has gained approval to operate in several speeding hotspots with a speed detection device.

Speaking at a town council meeting on Tuesday, January 10, Cllr Chris Roberts said: “We've currently got 25 trained volunteers with another six waiting to be trained. We've got approved sights. Two in Honeycomb Leaze, two in Quenington, then London Road and Leafield Road has just been approved and there are other sites waiting for approval.

“The volunteers have now drawn up a rota and they'll be going out twice a day periodically over a fortnight at different sites on the list.”

Speaking to the Standard on Friday, Cllr Roberts went on to explain that the group, which includes town mayor Jennie Sanford, will operate in threes or fours, having put down signs warning motorists they are entering a speed watch zone.

“The objective is not to catch people, but to educate them to slow down. If people, having seen us in operation, then make an effort to slow down in future off their own accord, we have achieved our purpose.”

She said once a stretch of road has been identified as a speeding hotspot, the group can send an application to the police to have it added to the list.

The first volunteers were trained last January by Cotswold police sergeant Garrett Gloyn, with interest having picked up over 2016 and spread to nearby villages.

The town council owns a speed detection device, as well as further kit, and now that enough volunteers have come forward, the operation can get into full swing.

Speaking last January, Cllr Roberts said: “The council have been talking for some time about bringing in reduced speed restrictions in Fairford, originally started by the congestion problems on Leafield Road, although there are other roads with speed issues.”

Community Speed Watch schemes aim to involve local residents in speed reduction activity in villages and towns across the district.

Letters are sent to registered keepers of offending vehicles, asking for their assistance in keeping speeds down in each community, with persistent offenders targeted for police enforcement.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the council office on 01285 712344.