On Monday evening 28th January 2013 your local Police Neighbourhood Team, led by PC Ben Satchfield, is holding a short (approx. 30 minutes) meeting in the Welwyn Civic Centre at 7 p.m to brief residents of Welwyn on the Speedwatch initiative they are introducing. The Speedwatch initiative encourages residents to form local teams of six, to measure and, if necessary, report excessive road user speeds.

The expectation is that, at the very least, the very presence of ‘official’ monitors will help curb excesses.

Welwyn residents frequently worry about the apparently excessive speed of traffic on Welwyn’s roads. To take examples, concerns have often been raised about the B197 as it passes along the Welwyn by-pass, through Oaklands & Mardley Heath, to Woolmer Green. Concerns are also raised about the Welwyn Link Road B656 where the speed of traffic coming from Codicote around the Fulling Mill Lane roundabout is very often hazardous, not only at that point but at the access points to the Danesbury Estate too. And similar concerns are frequently expressed about many points in Digswell village.

Our Police Neighbourhood Team Co-ordinator, PC Ben Satchfield, is now offering residents a chance to form local Speedwatch Teams of 6 volunteers each, to monitor and measure these apparently excessive speeds for themselves.

All the necessary training and equipment will be provided by the Police Neighbourhoood Team, and PC Ben Satchfield will explain how the teams will be organised and controlled.

Are you a concerned resident – concerned enough to help do something as a Speedwatch team member and make Welwyn safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike?

If you are, then please go along on Monday evening 28th January at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre and see how you might help.

And tell your friends and neighbours.

If you need your community, then your community certainly needs you……