RESIDENTS will be trained by the police to help clamp down on speeding motorists in two neighbouring towns.

Insp Paul Goodall said the authorities are forming a Community Road Watch scheme, where volunteers take part in traffic-monitoring activities after police training.

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The move follows a meeting for residents in the Brierfield and Reedley areas. The meeting was organised by county councillor Christian Wakeford after growing concerns about speeding and inconsiderate motorists.

Cllr Wakeford said: “The next course of action is to form a Community Road Watch scheme where we will monitor traffic activity and report incidents to the police for action to be taken.

“This is not going to be a quick solution but hopefully, with the community coming together to tackle this, we can start to properly address the issue.

“The ones that keep coming up are Colne Road, Reedley Road and Halifax Road.

“Ten people put their name forward after the meeting and another four or five have said since that they want to do it.”

The residents will be given speed cameras, although they will not have the power to secure a conviction.

Cllr Wakeford said: “It will free up the police to tackle more important crime than speeding. This is, as Paul said, another way to skin a cat. It also highlights if there is a problem in a particular place at a particular time so then the police can decide whether to deploy resources. So if we are detecting a big issue on a Sunday afternoon, then they can target that time.

“Registration plates will be run through the tax and insurance database and the police will be able to do them and confiscate and crush the vehicle.”

Drivers who exceed the limit will be sent letters, although the footage can be used to identify vehicles which are not taxed or insured.

Cllr Wakeford said: “It is predominantly speeding motorists but it goes beyond speeding to parking issues and street racing. There have been reports of cars stopping at traffic lights and then starting a race. It has been at about 10pm when the streets are clear and some lads think it is fun to have a race.”