Speedsters caught on '˜mad mile'

On Saturday, November 28, 2015, community volunteers along with PCSO Ross Wardman took part in a community speedwatch activity on Cain Lane in Southowram around the 20mph zone.

A Calder Valley Neighbourhood Policing team spokesperson said: “A total of sixteen vehicles were identified as travelling at speeds of 25mph or above during that period.

“The highest recorded speed was 44mph and further action will be taken against that individual.

“The vehicle drivers will be warned regarding their speed and vehicle details are logged in case of repeat offenders.”

Calderdale Council launched its Love Our Streets campaign last year which has seen 20mph speed limits introduced to areas across the borough.

The 20mph speed limit was introduced to a section of Cain Lane in June 2015.

Councillor Simon Young, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for public health, wellbeing and engagement, said at the start of the campaign launch: “Through the Love Our Streets campaign we want to help make our streets safe for everyone, enable people to walk or cycle shorter journeys, and help create more pleasant communities for us all to enjoy.

Calderdale Council’s speed indication device and speed gun has also recorded motorists travelling at an average speed of 43mph in the 30mph zone driving towards Scholes and doing 39mph in the direction of Brighouse.

The results were taken between 8am and 9.30am on August 12, 2015, in the layby on Highmoor Lane.

The results were taken in an area around from Towngate, the main road through Clifton, where parents take their children to St John’s Primary Academy and Clifton Village nursery. The stretch by the the Willow Valley golf club, which is also known as the ‘mad mile’, turns into the national speed limit.

The 85th percentile, the standard measurement used by the Highways Agency and the police, for the direction towards Scholes was 42mph and in the opposite direction it was 39mph. If the figures are above 35mph then police enforcement is recommended.