MEMBERS of the public with speed guns could soon be a familiar sight in East Cornwall, when a community speedwatch scheme hits the streets.

Residents of Callington, Gunnislake and Calstock are being asked to join in the fight to crackdown on speeding motorists by funding and using their own monitoring equipment.

Both Callington Town Council and Calstock Parish Council have been asked by the police to contribute towards a community speed detection device which will cost in the region of £400 — but businesses and organisations are also been approached.

Speeding is highlighted as one the main issues of concern when police attend council and public meetings in the area.

The scheme has already captured the interest of residents in Cox Park, where police have been out monitoring traffic on four occasions after complaints about speeding.

PCSO Mark Stribley said: 'We have identified three areas so far where there is a problem — Cox Park, where 40% of motorists are exceeding the speed limit, the A390 at St Ann's Chapel and Liskeard Road in Callington, but I am sure that once the scheme gets going there will be many other areas.

'We already have a list of names of residents at Cox Park who are willing to take part in community speedwatch.'

Members of the public will be trained in how to use the cameras and on health and safety awareness issues and will be part of a community speedwatch group.

The cameras cannot be used for enforcement but only for monitoring purposes. The information is collected and collated before being passed onto the police who will decide what enforcement is required.

PCSO Stribley said: 'It maybe that the visible presence of people with speed guns will have the effect of slowing the speed of traffic down but it may a case of approaching County Highways to see if the speed limit can be lowered or speed bumps put in.'

There are also plans to set up School Speedwatch, which has been very successful in Bude, whereby speeding motorists are given the option of being 'grilled' by schoolchildren or pay a fixed penalty.

Sergeant Brett Philips said: 'We are not asking the public to do our jobs — some people are very community spirited and want to get involved.

'All we are doing is asking for their help in the same way as neighbourhood watch. It will definitely have an impact if people are standing there on the verge with high visibility jackets on.'

Chairman of Calstock Parish Council Jerome Irons said the council had not yet discussed the issue, but personally he was not in favour of members of the community using speed cameras: 'This could result in bad feelings in the village and could easily escalate further,' he said.

'There are also major health and safety issues to consider.

'I pay approximately £180 per year on my council tax to the Devon and Cornwall Police to undertake this job and I do not believe local people should be asked to do their job. The police have the uniform and training to deal with the drivers and any confrontational situations that may arise.'