RESIDENTS are being urged to join a crackdown on speeding traffic in the Fell Lane area of Keighley.

A ward councillor wants householders to sign up to help run Speedwatch patrols aimed at catching drivers who recklessly break speed limits.

Adrian Farley is responding to regular complaints from residents about excessive vehicle speeds on and around Fell Lane, Wheathead Lane and Oakworth Road.

He has already recruited a small group of volunteers, but needs several more willing hands in order to provide focused coverage.

Householders, working on a rota, will join Police Community Support Officers in using hand-held radar guns at high-speed hotspots.

Cllr Farley, who represents Keighley West ward on Bradford Council, said the problem was first brought to his attention at a Neighbourhood Forum meeting.

He added: “We asked for people to come forward to be trained with the Police Community Support Officers to use the cameras.

“Drivers are not taking heed of the 30mph speed limit in a number of parts of the ward. The situation is becoming unacceptable.”

Cllr Farley said a similar scheme in Laycock, where drivers speed on the approach to the village from Braithwaite, was proving successful.

He added: “We have also had some success with an Oakworth Road Speedwatch, near the old Brontë School site where the road was historically 40mph. We plan further patrols up there.

“Fell Lane is particularly bad when you’re coming down towards Westfell Road. There have been a few near misses on the bend near the scout hut.”

Cllr Farley said Fell Lane was especially plagued by vehicles driving at high speeds late at night.

Joe and Rhona Woollard, who live in Oakworth Road at Bogthorn, near the former Brontë School site, last year told the Keighley news how speeding drivers regularly damaged parked vehicles as they whizzed past.

He said another trouble-spot is in Wheathead Lane, near Exley Head, with concealed entrances such as Ridgeway Mount.

He added: “I think initially it will be a benefit to have Speedwatches on a regular basis. The more regularly we have them, the more we raise awareness.”

Cllr Farley himself plans to learn how to use a Speedwatch camera and undergo the necessary health and safety training.

He added: “Residents will always be with a PCSO or a regular police officer.”

Anyone interested in joining the patrols should contact Cllr Farley by e-mailing adrian.farley@bradford.gov.uk or call him on 07811 566301.

lWhat do you think? We welcome letters on this or any other subject. E-mail richard.parker@keighleynews.co.uk or write to the Keighley News, 80-86 North Street, Keighley BD21 3AG.