BERKELEY and Sharpness residents have been offered the chance to police their own streets and catch speeding drivers.

The Community Speed Watch scheme, already running across the county, has been offered to the area as speeding is consistently highlighted as a problem in the area, most recently in a community consultation at the end of last year.

The local policing panel then met on Wednesday, November 7 to choose their priorities for the next six months.

Reducing speeding on all the main roads into Berkeley, improving parking outside the NatWest cash point on Market Square and tackling anti-social behaviour after pub closing time are the priorities for the new Berkeley and Severnside sergeant PS Sam Tuley and her team.

And local people could soon be monitoring traffic themselves, if there is more interest in the speed watch scheme.

Volunteers who have received training from police could use speed monitoring equipment on traffic.

The details of vehicles exceeding the limit are passed to police, who issue a warning letter to the registered owners.
 
Persistent speeders can be dealt with by the police.

Berkeley's PC Becky King said: "Community Speed Watch has only had two takers so far which is not enough to run the programme.

"However we are hopeful that others may still come forward."

Gloucestershire Police's Wheeled Respect operation has been targeting dangerous drivers in the town over the past year.

Ten drivers and cyclists were stopped for driving offences on Saturday, January 5, and seven drivers were caught not wearing seatbelts in December.

Last June, Gloucestershire Police caught six drivers speeding on Lynch Road, an area with a 30mph speed limit where residents have been particularly concerned about speeding.

PC Becky King said: "Over the coming weeks you will see PCSO Mike Trebble and myself looking to address all these priorities robustly in the area.

"We look forward to your support."

Additionally the county council has been set the task of tackling dog fouling in Berkeley.

Environment officers will be stepping up patrols, issuing irresponsible dog owners with fixed penalty fines of £75, and temporary yellow stencils have been placed on pavements in dog mess trouble spots to remind dog owners to clean up.