A COMMUNITY Speedwatch group is being restarted in a hamlet on the Blackdown Hills near Wellington where records of speeding motorists are some of the worst in the county.

Ford Street has had a 30 mph speed zone for the past decade but one in five drivers have been caught breaking the limit, with one travelling at 53 mph.

Now, Wellington Without Parish Council clerk Neil Dalton, who lives in Ford Street, is restarting a volunteer Speedwatch group which will work with local police to help enforce the speed limit.

The parish council is also arranging for Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) to be used at either end of the community once permanent poles have been installed for them to be attached.

Parish councillors heard at their January meeting that a pedestrian had recently experienced a near-miss with a speeding van.

As a result, police had agreed to undertake speed monitoring in Ford Street which could result in drivers being prosecuted.

An investigation into road signage after recent accidents had revealed that signs were in place indicating a preferred route for HGVs which avoided Ford Street and Wellington Hill.

However, the preferred route was not on satellite navigation systems, which compounded the problem, even for local contractors which ought to be aware.

Mr Dalton said he had discussed the issue with both the police and Somerset Council’s highways department, and following a number of issues with lorries on Wellington Hill a member of the police traffic team was looking at the problem.

Councillors expressed disappointment they had again not received any report from their neighbourhood policing team and agreed to contact Avon and Somerset Constabulary to request regular updates.

It was particularly pertinent given there had been three instances of break-ins or attempted thefts in the parish leading to people being urged to take precautions and maintain vigilance.