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Action group to buy own speed recorder
By Hannah Williams
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MOTORISTS in Beaconsfield will have to slow down in the town as an action group looks set to buy its own mobile speed recorder.
Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) would be the first of its kind in the country to own its own Speed Indicator Device (SID), thanks to a £4,300 donation from the Beaconsfield Campaign Group (BCG).
The equipment will allow trained members to conduct their own speed checks with the support of Thames Valley Police.
The "clever" device will signal to passing traffic the speed at which it is travelling and will be able to store data with the aim of producing material to educate local motorists on how to drive safely.
Andre de Marsac, chairman of the Beaconsfield NAG, said that as planning circumstances had moved on, a new and relevant use was needed for the funds.
He said: "We are very grateful that the funds have become available. The SID will not be a tool that is there to threaten, but to remind drivers not to speed in built up areas where there may be children around.
"I think it will be in regular use alongside other methods of carrying out speed checks and issuing tickets to speeders in areas where they shouldn't be."
Rod Whyte will hand over a cheque to Mr de Marsac for the full amount on behalf of the BCG committee at the meeting of Beaconsfield Town Council on Thursday.
The Beaconsfield Campaign Group successfully campaigned against South Bucks District Council's plans to build an office block on the Altons car park and replace the Town Hall with a multi-storey car park.
It then sought to represent the interests of third parties in planning matters but disbanded after a lack of response by local Government.
Gerry Dorme, chairman of the former BCG Committee, said he was disappointed that the funds could not be used for representing the interests of third parties in local planning matters, but believed that the use of the money would meet with the approval of the donors.
Residents will be able to request to have the use of the SID to carry out traffic surveillance in the roads where they live in a bid to tackle speeding.