Speed camera call after 88mph recorded in village

A village Speedwatch group has called for permanent cameras to be installed after speeds of up to 88mph (142km/h) were recorded on a 30mph (48km/h) road.

The highest speeds were captured by a parish council-operated speed indicator device (SID) in Draycott Road, Breaston.

Clive Edwards, a Speedwatch group member, said the devices, which were installed last year, had proven residents' concerns about speeding.

Derbyshire County Council said the cost to install speed cameras would be "an extremely large expense".

Edwards, 72, helped set up the group in 2022 after getting "more and more annoyed" at the speed of traffic he saw while walking his rescue border collie Belle.

Breaston Parish Council set up five SIDs in the village last year in response to the concerns.

The devices flash the speed of the driver and advise them to slow down. The recorded data can then be downloaded and shared by the parish council.

Between 13 and 20 January, 951 vehicles were recorded at more than 40mph (64km/h) on 30mph limits, of which five vehicles were clocked at more than 70mph (112km/h), the group said.

"Anecdotally you know some people who live on the main roads are very frightened about the speed of traffic and accidents," he said.

"These [SIDs] now provide hard evidence of the actual speeds."

The data has prompted the group to call for more permanent speed cameras.

Group member Karl Barrow, 71, said that would provide a "real answer", as speeding drivers would receive penalties.

"That's the way you will stop this ultimately," he said.

Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for transport, Charlotte Hill, said road safety was one of the authority's top priorities.

But the installation of speed cameras would be expensive, according to the authority.

"We are grateful for the work of the valuable community groups, and while we have to prioritise funding for road safety, I would still urge residents to get in touch with us," she said.

Derbyshire Police said it had been "actively working" with the community in Breaston over the issue of speeding.

Insp Charlotte Pigott said three speed sites in Breaston and the surrounding villages had a designated roads policing officer who conducted regular patrols.

"Such measures are having a positive impact, and our data suggests the average speed through the centre of Breaston is under 30mph and has been for some time," Pigott said.

"Our work to ensure motorists are driving at safe speeds in and around the village will continue and I would like to encourage anyone with concerns about speeding in the area to please report this to us."

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