Drivers facing blitz on parking and speeding (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Drivers facing blitz on parking and speeding

MOTORISTS in Chipping Norton face a double whammy of a speeding clampdown and a blitz against illegal parking this month.

The town council called for the clampdown on parking at the annual meeting last week, calling on the police to adopt a zero tolerance attitude to illegal parking in troublespots at Middle Row and New Street in particular.

Town Sgt Kate Vandersteen pointed out: "There is free parking in Chipping Norton town centre so there is very little excuse for parking illegally. Parking on double yellow lines outside shops, for example, is just pure laziness. It can cause obstruction to other traffic, and in a town like Chipping Norton which is a major through route, it can lead to tailbacks."

The police will also be targeting drivers who park in disabled bays without the appropriate authority.

The police are also mounting the campaign in partnership with West Oxfordshire District Council. The Neighbourhoods Action Group - NAG for short - had highlighted the twin problems for action at a recent meeting and a campaign to cut down on both was devised.

The speeding project was trialled in February and proved so effective that it is being used again. The neighbourhood policing team made use of the force's SID, Speed Indication Device, across the region, in conjunction with NAG members and other volunteer residents. The vast majority of speeders turned out to live in the area in which they were caught.

Sgt Vandersteen said: "It was remarkable that the majority of people we sent warning letters to were local, especially since the area has so many visitors and tourists. It may be that locals are so familiar with the area that they don't realise how fast they are going and get careless."

If drivers are caught speeding by the device they will receive a warning letter. If they are caught a second time, they get a further, more severe warning.

"One would hope that after that they would stop, otherwise they will be before the courts," said Sgt Vandersteen.

Studies have identified the A44 out of Chipping Norton as a particular trouble spot, along with the Kingham to Churchill Road and New Street in Chipping Norton town centre.

The police also reminded drivers that they should be continuing at 30mph right up to a sign changing the limit up to 40.

The NAG is developing an educational and locally-based leaflet for those caught speeding, highlighting the consequences of their actions.