An Isle of Wight councillor is stepping up his efforts to tackle speeding in Binstead and the surrounding area – and is calling on fellow councillors to set up speedwatch schemes in their wards.
Councillor Ian Dore has been listening to the concerns of local residents who say that speeding is a problem in the Binstead and Fishbourne area. To stand up the claims from residents, Cllr Dore recently borrowed a speed gun to confirm the observations, proving that vehicles do sometimes travel at 50 to 70mph on Binstead Hill.
Island Echo reported last week that the Isle of Wight Council had previously put £300,000 aside in this year’s budget to buy 2 sets of average speed cameras, but the decision had been taken to continue to investigate this need rather than going ahead and making the purchase.
Councillor Dore said he was not convinced the mobile cameras would be a solution and it was only through cuts that the Island did not have a dedicated Roads Policing Unit (RPU).
Now, Ian is reinforcing his message that the Island needs a dedicated RPU and is encouraging fellow councillors to take some immediate action.
Councillor Dore says:
“The Isle of Wight lost its Road Policing Unit, some seven years ago and it’s also probably no coincidence that across the board from 2009 when austerity started, the positive results in speed reduction plateaued. Sadly from 2019, things have got even worse with such issues increasing steadily and by considerable numbers too.
“After speaking to a number of Police Officers who aren’t what you would call at ‘political’ level, the solution is always the same. Bring back a dedicated Road Policing Unit. That responsibility and indeed budget falls firmly at the feet of the head honchos in the Hampshire Constabulary. To that end, I’ve asked Donna Jones the PCC for a meeting to see what can be done to get it reinstated.
Article continues below this advertisement “I wouldn’t rule out supporting some degree of budget coming from the Council to assist in getting this up and running; but let’s be clear, it should not be for the local taxpayer to provide a level of service when it should come from the Police coffers. The austerity cuts to Policing and many other services were short-sighted and irresponsible. Now the negative results are really starting to be seen and with some new faces in the chairs, one hopes exceptions can be made and smarter decisions taken.
“A dedicated RPU can also deal with drug and drink driving, cars not being safe for the road, anti-social behaviour, insurance dodgers and other issues. A speed camera is a one-trick pony, barely with all four legs as they are so easy to avoid. As a first defence, I urge all Councillors to set up a speedwatch campaign in the communities they represent; whilst the appropriate committee discusses the options”.
“The fact is, the Islands Police need more funding to provide the level of service that Islanders deserve”.
Question. Why were the speed Camerer’s that we had, taken out of use ? In fact did they ever function properly?
Speed Camerer’s dont detect drink /drug driving .No insurance/ no tax ETC,. ETC.
And whatever happened to my extra council tax towards the police funding, it wasn’t just petty cash. They said, For the improvement of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight policing, realy, probably meant Hampshire. The island is viewed as a poor relation it has to stop. Over to you Bob. I wonder if Hampshire has lost its road policing units?
Speeding. Were not talking about 40 mph in a 30 mph zone here. but dangerous speeding that can result in death
“Over to you, Bob.” Oh, how I larfed. This would be Tory Bob whose Tory mates have cut Police funding for years (being, as they claim, “the party of law and order”) and are now trying to claim credit for undoing their mistakes by too little, too late.
By the way, where do you borrow a speed gun?
Glad you got my joke Mr Springs. Thought it might be a bit deep, but cant fool you.
It’s not just speed it’s poor driving no indication of where your going and not even looking right at roundabouts and most island drivers cut corners and cross the centre line speed in built up areas is a problem
The only crime here are those sandals
Its not just Binstead to Wooton. I find most speeding is at night and the early hours and not just
boy racercars.Police also need to tackle the fact that if you report uninsured/no mot/not taxed vehicles there is a massive delay in follow ups, usually meaning the culprits have already moved on and don’t get caught, I’ve seen so many unroadworthy vehicles with bald tyres and a myriad of other issues the last few years on our Island that it becomes a worry when driving on our rural roads!
What a joke. Hampshire police need to actually have police officers drive the area cars. Why are there so many civilians aka PCSO’s driving them? Perhaps a few beaten up old police cars no issue but a 69 plate car?
Talk about providing a false sense of numbers! Get a dedicated RPU over here and get the PCO’s walking the beat like they should! We don’t need them in cars we need them interacting with us shop keepers and a like!
We don’t pay taxes for a load of civilians in the police we want police officers! I’m told it’s the same in the CID department! A few detectives and police and mainly civilians.
The idiot car and bike racers use Ryde Esplanade as their race track on a daily basis with one local cretin driving up and down the esplanade at all hours of the night backfiring deliberately.
Everyone is always going on about speeding but noone ever seems to mention lack of awareness, talking to passengers instead of watching the road, being in the wrong lane, playing on phones etc etc
How many accidents are down to speeding alone because i know ALOT of 2+ vehicle RTA’s are down to people not driving correctly and that has nothing to do with speed at all. 10mph can kill someone. Think and drive safe but don’t always label speed as an ultimate killer!