TWO Bromsgrove councillors have slammed Community Speed Watch for 'looking the other way' over speeding issues in Stoke Heath.

Cllr Chris Bloore, who represents Sidemoor Ward, and Cllr Michael Thompson, for Rock Hill, have been taking action to combat speeding in southern Bromsgrove, having already bought a speed activation sign for Rock Hill, using Cllr Bloore's county division fund.

The councillors were keen to continue their campaign by creating a local Community Speed Watch group, following complaints from concerned residents about drivers repeatedly exceeding the legal speed limit on Wheatridge Road in Stoke Heath.

After emailing a request to Community Speed Watch co-ordinator Adnan Ali, the pair were 'outraged' to be told the road was not a suitable candidate for a speed watch group, and to contact the local Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Cllr Bloore said: "I am astounded the Community Speed Watch group do not think Wheatridge Road is suitable. You only have to stand there to see speeding is a problem. Instead of looking the other way we should be doing all we can to tackle the problem."

Cllr Thompson added: “Sadly, since becoming a councillor, this is the kind of crazy bureaucratic nonsense I’ve learnt to expect.

“There are all these groups that sound great – Safer Bromsgrove,‘Community Speed Watch, Safer Neighbourhood Team – you scratch the surface and in the end they are all pretty ineffective.”

A spokesman for the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia has since said that the road does not have good enough forward visibility for volunteers to be able to safely monitor traffic.

The spokesman added: "The local councillor was advised to speak to the safer neighbourhood team to see if this could be focused on by the local team.

All requests for new enforcement sites must fulfil certain criteria, including health and safety issues and ensuring there is a safe and suitable location for enforcement to take place."