KEIGHLEY householders will spring into action today to tackle speeding drivers who use their neighbourhood as a ‘rat run’.

Fell Lane area residents will use speed guns to snap law-breaking drivers during the morning rush hour.

The 75-minute operation, beginning at 8.15am, will be the first to be organised by the recently-established Keighley West Community Speedwatch Group. Set up by Bradford councillor Adrian Farley, who represents Keighley West ward, it will tackle speeding in Fell Lane, Wheathead Lane and Oakworth Road.

Fell Lane and surrounding streets are heavily used as rat-runs by people living in nearby villages or outlying housing estates..

It is particularly affected on the stretch of road going down towards Westfell Road, and there have been several near misses on the bend by the Scout hut. There are also problems with vehicles driving at high speeds late at night.

Cllr Farley said: “The first Speedwatch is in response to concerns from Keighley West residents about speeding traffic. “We have about nine members in the group and hopefully more will join. We eventually hope to cover all parts of the ward.

“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 first revealed the speeding problem last October after being approached by residents at his councillor surgeries and at a Neighbourhood Forum meeting.

He had recruited a small group of volunteers by last autumn, but needed several more willing hands in order to provide focused coverage, issuing an appeal through the Keighley News.

Householders, working on a rota, will join Police Community Support Officers in using hand-held radar guns at high-speed hotspots. Volunteers have been trained by the PCSOs.

The Fell Lane operation is building on the success of a similar scheme in Laycock, where drivers speed on the stretch of the main road linking the village with Braithwaite. There is also a successful Oakworth Road Speedwatch, near the old Brontë School site, where many motorists break the 30mph limit.

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

Contact Cllr Farley via adrian.farley@bradford.gov.uk or on 07811 566301 to join the group.