Findern has recently joined the Derbyshire’s Community Speed Watch (CSW) scheme and has six volunteers completing their training in August to start monitoring the speed of traffic through our village.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Findern’s Community Speed Watch team, then please contact the Clerk of the Parish Council on clerk@findernparishcouncil.org

Speeding or perceived speeding, affects the quality of life in our local communities. However, as the Community Speed Watch (CSW) scheme in Derbyshire has shown, a strong community lead approach can make a real difference.

CSW is a national initiative where a team of local volunteers are trained and issued with speed detection equipment to monitor speed through their local communities.

They receive appropriate training and annual refreshes and are supported by the safer neighbourhood policing teams (SNTS). Vehicles observed speeding are sent a warning letter, along with advice to help change their driving behaviour.

This educational approach of outlining the potential consequences of irresponsible driving has been shown to reduce excess speed as well as other road safety issues.

The scheme does not replace intelligence lead enforcement activity by police officers or the forces safety camera team; but provides additional opportunities for the public to influence and contribute to the education of motorists while making their neighbourhoods safer.

The Speed Watch initiative has recently reached the milestone of its 500th volunteer.

Sean Woodcock, Community Speed Watch coordinator within the CREST team, said:

“Derbyshire’s Community Speed Watch (CSW) scheme is gearing up to welcome it’s 500th volunteer and this is testament to the hard work put in by many including those before me, and the volunteers and SNT offices all of whom have contributed to making the scheme a success. It is true partnership working with the community, directly addressing – with the support of the police – an issue that affects so many on a daily basis. Following Covid, it’s also proving to be a real catalyst for bringing communities together in a positive and meaningful way thereby leading to wider benefits for all. The energy previously used in highlighting the same speeding issues to the same authorities can now be used in volunteering and making a direct difference.”

Making a difference

Two local volunteers have shared their stories, outlining the benefits of the scheme.

Isobel from Quarndon:

“We started a speed watch in 2015 when it was a new concept and, if I’m honest, looked down upon by many. A recent neighbourhood plan questionnaire highlighted speeding as a major concern for many residents and we had a recruitment drive and formed a team of 23 volunteers. Since then, the scheme has gone from strength to strength, helped recently by Its centralisation and the potential for the data collected to be used to give support from other measures. Quarndon residents feel this is the one thing they can do to address something that affects them every day. CSW needs to be part of the bigger picture!”

Marion from Littleover:

“Speeding continues to be of great concern within the Littleover area. We are a proactive team of volunteers helping to improve road safety for local residents in our community. Our aim is to reduce the speed of vehicles (drive within the speed limit), educate drivers and raise awareness of speeding vehicles. We are out and about in the community on a weekly basis all year round. We are very visible at different locations within our area and have built a strong working relationship with the police and CREST. I personally volunteer as I want to help make a positive difference in the community and help make our area a safer place to live.”

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Findern’s Community Speed Watch team, then please contact the Clerk of the Parish Council on clerk@findernparishcouncil.org

There will be an Ordinary Meeting of Findern Parish Council at 7.15pm on Thursday, 8 July 2021. The meeting will be held at the Village Hall, off Castle Hill, Findern.

PRESS AND PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF COVID RESTRICTIONS NUMBERS WILL BE LIMITED AND YOU ARE ASKED TO CONTACT THE CLERK PRIOR TO THE MEETING TO BE ALLOCATED A PLACE. Please note the precautions below regarding COVID.

The  Agenda for the meeting and the Minutes of the previous meetings can be found on the Meetings page here.

Public attendance at Parish Council meetings

The Parish Council is an open and transparent local authority and encourages public attendance at meetings. However, in line with COVID regulations, there currently has to be limited public access to meetings to ensure social distancing.

The number of members of the public who can be safely accommodated at each meeting will be dealt with on an individual basis, taking into account factors such as size of the membership and room capacity.

If you wish to attend in person, you are requested to contact the Clerk whose details are included on the meeting agenda in order to discuss arrangements and give advance notice of any matters that you wish to raise. If you attend the meeting without contacting us in advance, there may not be a place available for you.

You should not attend a meeting in person if:

• you have coronavirus symptoms: a high temperature, loss or change to sense of smell or taste, a new continuous cough.
• if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are waiting for a test result.
• if you have been instructed by the NHS to self-isolate.
• you have recently returned from travel abroad and should be either self-isolating or quarantining.

Keeping meetings, employees and visitors safe

When you attend the meeting, keep yourself and others safe by following the Government’s guidance at all times. Our safety measures require:

• wearing a face covering, unless exempt.
• maintaining a 2-metre distance from others.
• using the hand sanitiser provided upon entrance to and exit from the meeting room.

In line with national track and trace requirements we ask that you provide the Clerk with your name, email address and telephone number in advance of the meeting date. Your details will be held on record for 21 days from the date of the meeting and then they will be securely deleted.