Speeding is a recurring theme in most police community meetings throughout the Cardigan rural area.

So Cardigan Rural Neighborhood Policing Team and the community of Aberporth and Blaenporth have launched a Community Speed Watch (CSW) Scheme.

The scheme was launched outside Aberporth Primary School and will also be run at Blaenporth.

This initiative sees local residents use hand-held devices to record motorists’ speed in these identified locations.

Any vehicles that are exceeding the speed limits are then sent a warning letter by Dyfed-Powys Police. The emphasis here is on raising awareness of speed rather than on prosecution.

Scheme coordinator Alan Peggram said: “The CSW scheme was set up following concerns expressed to local councillors about excessive speeding in the vicinity of the primary school and other locations throughout the villages of Aberporth and Blaenporth.

“We are happy to be giving up a few hours a month to the scheme and I’m certain that by doing this we can achieve our main goal which is to raise awareness on speed and hopefully prevent accidents from happening. “

Local PCSO Hedydd Llewelyn said: “This is a brilliant scheme and it’s great to have so much enthusiasm from active members of the community. They are giving up their free time to help tackle community concerns and for this I am thankful. This shows that communities can help keep themselves safe by being proactive and educating drivers to go slower, particularly outside schools. “

Chief Inspector Ross Evans said: “Our communities tell us time and again that speeding is of major concern to them, so the introduction of this innovative scheme where communities will play a pivotal part in tackling speeding is a positive step forward. In order to make this scheme a success we need people in our communities throughout Dyfed Powys to volunteer, so if you have a problem with speeding in your town or village and want to be part of actively addressing the problem please get in touch with us.”

If you are interested in setting up a Community Speed Watch in your area or wish to discuss the scheme further then please get in touch with your local Neighbourhood Policing Team by calling 101.