TOWN councillors are to join in the battle to try to put the brakes on speeding motorists throughout the Wellington area.

Members of the council’s economic development committee agreed on February 11 to buy a speed indicator device (SID), a machine which can be dotted about the town and shows drivers how fast they are going.

Annette Kirk, the council’s facilities manager, said: “We can use the SID in various places around Wellington.”

The Mayor, Cllr Janet Lloyd, said: “Wellington Without Parish Council has just bought a SID and we could do with one along Station Road and Exeter Road.

“I think this is a very good idea.”

Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “There are multiple sites around the town where we could have one of these SIDs.

“We need to record the data and see how many vehicles go through above the speed limit.

“We can then start putting together a good argument about permanent speed cameras.

“Speed limits are there for a reason.

“They are not there to annoy people, but they are there to try and prevent road accidents and deaths.”

Cllr John Thorne said: “I suggested we do this four or five years ago, but the council overwhelmingly voted against it.

“The SID will have a black box which will collect all the data.”

Cllr Thorne also said that five years previously he had suggested that after buying a SID it could be rented out to neighbouring parish councils to raise some income.

However, he said: “Obviously, since then they have gone out and bought their own SIDs, so that opportunity has gone.”

Councillors supported the idea of spending up to £5,000 on a SID, which will cover installation, purchase of a pole if required, and a licence for installation on the public highway.

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The costs would come from the council’s town centre projects budget.