Winchelsea will see the launch, on Tuesday May 20, of the first Community Speed Watch scheme in Rother.

Community Speed Watch is an initiative sponsored by Sussex Police and East Sussex County Council to reduce traffic speed in villages and rural areas that do not suffer sufficient accidents to qualify for traffic calming or police enforcement, but where speeding is still a blight on the community.

The scheme involves volunteers who are trained, advised, insured and supported by the police, monitoring speed by using a laser "speed gun".
Vehicles travelling at 35mph or more in 30mph zones, and 45mph or more in 40mph zones, are reported to the police, who write to the owner asking them to desist from speeding.

If the same vehicle is detected speeding on a second occasion, the owner receives a warning that the vehicle may be targeted by the police.

If the vehicle is then detected speeding by the police, the driver is prosecuted.

In the Sussex pilot scheme at Ringmer, where up to three letters are sent out, few second letters and no third letters have had to be sent.

One of the organisers of the Winchelsea scheme, Parish Councillor Richard Comotto, hoped it would have the same effect as in Ringmer: "All we want to do is make sure that no one loses life or limb in Winchelsea just because a driver wants to beat a lorry on the A259 by cutting through the town.

"The vast majority of drivers are careful and considerate, and Speed Watch will simply have no impact on them, but there is the minority who are a risk to other road-users. We hope that Speed Watch will encourage them to drive sensibly."

The introduction of Speed Watch in Winchelsea is being preceded by a speed awareness campaign. Posters, designed by residents, are being used to remind drivers of the risks that speeding poses to themselves and others, and to ensure everyone is aware of the launch.

Winchelsea is the first village in Rother to introduce Community Speed Watch but others are expected to follow. The Neighbourhood Specialist Team at Rye police station will be supporting the Winchelsea Community Speed Watch by conducting speed checks with their own recently-acquired laser speed gun.

Cllr Comotto said: "Community Speed Watch has been a source of contention between Winchelsea residents and Icklesham Parish Council.
"Winchelsea councillors were outvoted by those from other wards when they requested the Council to provide a letter of support for Speed Watch.

"Icklesham Parish Council has also refused to contribute towards the purchase of the Winchelsea speed gun, leaving residents to raise over £2,500 through donations and from the Police Property and Joint Initiative Funds.