TRAFFIC, as ever, was a top discussion point for Camelfordians at the recent annual parish meeting in the town.

During public question time, local man John Green raised the matter of traffic flow through Camelford, and how the community could approach safer measures for road users and pedestrians.

He said: “Why can’t we do anything about speeding in the town?”

Town clerk, Esther Grieg, said that Highways are aware of the ongoing traffic related issues and that Camelford has its own speed watch scheme. She then explained that the road coming into Camelford is an A road, meaning traffic calming measures are difficult to establish.

Mayor, Cllr Kirsty Ferguson, is part of the Camelford community speed watch. She said that the group can usually only undertake a speed watch for up to an hour, as the powers of social media soon take force and people tend to slow down.

She explained that out of the vehicles passing by, the group tend to catch 13 to 14 speeding each time, with the highest speeds being 48mph by a heavy goods vehicle and a car at 45mph, both in a 30mph zone. Those who are caught speeding have their registration plates logged and sent to a database, and then a warning letter is sent to the motorist to state they have been caught by the community speed watch.

“If they are caught again, they receive another warning letter, and on the third time they get caught their details are passed on to Devon, Cornwall and Dorset Speed Alliance, and they are then monitored from there. They have their details on a computer, an ANPR system (automatic number plate recognition),” said Cllr Ferguson.

Mr Green said: “So it’s a case of slow down, but we are not going to charge you?”

Another member of the public asked if cars without MOT and insurance can also be recognised through community speed watch.

Cllr Ferguson explained: “When on community speed watch, we have caught two to three cars with no MOT or insurance, which we have reported.

“We do need more volunteers. We can’t do it all ourselves — there is only three of us. We do get a horrendous amount of abuse, which we were very surprised about, but it is worth it.”

Town councillor Andy Shaw admitted that traffic calming measures and speed watch schemes can be very useful, after ‘stumbling across one’ himself recently.

He said: “There was a sign with the speed I was doing flashing on the screen. It does show how fast you’re going, and it makes you think, ‘I didn’t know I was going that fast’.”

On a final note, Cllr Ferguson added: “We only do an hour as once Facebook catches onto it then they all slow and we’re just stood there with our cameras.”

Anyone interested in joining Camelford community speed watch should contact PCSO Mike Dodd on 01840 211601.

Cllr Ferguson stood down as mayor and councillor at the end of the meeting.