Speeding is still a concern (From Dorset Echo)

Speeding is still a concern

11:18am Tuesday 17th January 2012 in Community

The January PACT meeting held in Bincombe Court was well attended as usual. Councillor Mark Tewkesbury commented that it was nice to see so many regular faces.

A few years back, he said, the more faces he saw at meetings meant there were a lot of problems but nowadays it only meant there were plenty of people who were interested in keeping Littlemoor a nice place to live.

On that subject PCSO Debbie Oswald Watson said that the PACT meetings were the only regular public meetings and should be used for more than just complaints.

We should, she put forward, use them to discuss anything from the lottery funding to discussing the Olympics.

It was a good way to meet your fellow residents, the more we got to know one another the better we can make a safer, more pleasant environment for all.

Concerns were raised about the few drivers who were speeding on the roads.

There are a lot of young children on our streets and if drivers continue to ignore speed limits then it won’t be long before a child is killed.

The worst road for offenders was Louviers but since the relief road had been built drivers were now speeding along Culliford Way and Bayard Road.

The police said they had been out with their speed guns but they were only effective for short periods, drivers would warn each other that speeds were being checked and so very few offenders were caught.

The advice given was that if you saw a car speeding you should take a note of its number and report it to the police or better still take a photo with your mobile phone. The problem was then raised about dogs fouling the footpaths, a complaint that was brought forward from the last meeting.

The dog warden had been informed about this and he said this was a difficult issue to resolve. It was up to the dog owners to behave more responsibly and clear up after their pets.

Neither he, nor the police could constantly patrol the streets to watch for offenders.

Recently there has been an increase in fly-tipping up by the water tower.

Should you see anyone dumping waste material, do not intervene but report it immediately to the police on the new non emergency number 101, or take a note of the number of the vehicle used or better still a photo. Current PACT priorities are available to view online at www.dorsetpolice.co.uk and just enter your postcode.

The next meeting will be held on 22nd February at 7.30pm at Bincombe Court.

I apologise to those of you who read my column a fortnight ago and, like me, put rubbish out on the 14th for the drive thru refuse collection.

I was misinformed but I now have the correct dates and areas that the drive thru will occur.

On the 28th January the following roads will be visited by the drive thru: Bayard Road, Culliford Way, Bincombe Rise, Gladstone Close, Knoll Rise, Hamilton Close, Wentworth Close and Castlemaine.

On the 4th February, Louviers Road, Canberra Road, Darwin Close, Canberra Crescent, Kimberley Close, Brisbane Road and Littlemoor Road.

A note will be dropped through letterboxes about ten days before each drive thru.