RESIDENTS are proving that speed is an issue in Blunsdon after catching scores of drivers exceeding the speed limit.

Blunsdon residents have set up a Community Speed Watch scheme, which they hope will make drivers think about the speed they are doing on two main roads in the village.

Last Tuesday, the seven volunteers set up at two spots in the village to monitor speeds with handheld speed detection equipment following training by police officers.

The two main areas volunteers were focusing their efforts on were Broad Bush and Lady Lane, which residents have said are dangerous roads, following a number of accidents that have taken place on both over the years.

During just half an hour of monitoring in Broad Bush, the volunteers caught 22 drivers exceeding the 30mph speed limit travelling in excess of 36mph.

One car was clocked doing nearly twice the speed limit travelling at 52mph.

Stuart Boyd, chairman of the Blunsdon Parish Council and one of the volunteers of the community run scheme, said that just one day had confirmed fears that cars were travelling too fast in Blunsdon.

He said: “In just half an hour we had 22 motorists exceeding 36mph speed in a 30mph zone.

“We always knew that people were speeding in these areas – we even had one car that was doing 52mph.

“I am hopeful if drivers are seeing us out on the side of the roads on a regular basis they will start thinking about their speed and slow down.”

The first session was not without its blips as the team located in Lady Lane had technical problems. Despite this, they still caught four drivers.

But not everyone is supportive of the residents’ actions. The group was also subjected to abuse from some drivers who were unhappy at what they were trying to do.

Mr Boyd: “We did get three cases of abuse.

“There are some people who don’t support what we are doing.”

Community Speed Watch has been running in the Wiltshire Council catchment area for two and a half years, but Blunsdon is the first place in Swindon to run the scheme.

Speed Watch volunteers have passed on details of speeding drivers to the police, which has resulted in 11,700 letters being sent out as well as 18 police cautions, six fixed penalty notices and three people being taken to court last year in Wiltshire.

The council is looking for residents across the town who can help start similar schemes in their local areas.