A COMMUNITY speed watch scheme caught over 20 per cent of the vehicles going through the village at a speed over the limit.

Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council said that at their most recent community speed watch exercise, held in Chilsworthy, 70 vehicles were recorded passing the volunteers with speed monitoring equipment.

The speeding motorists were caught by a community speed watch team, who, unlike traditional speed watch enforcement by police, which usually ends in points on a licence, a fine or an invitation to a speed awareness class, merely report their findings and evidence.

The community speed watch scheme is a volunteer-led national initiative where local residents use speed detection devices to monitor vehicle speeds, report speeding motorists to the police, and educate drivers rather than issue immediate roadside fines.

However, persistent offenders may then be subject to action from Devon and Cornwall Police’s speed enforcement team.

Of the 70 motorists passing through the village, 15 had exceeded 35 miles per hour and five vehicles exceeded 40 miles per hour in a section of the village where the speed limit is 30 miles per hour.

It has led the parish council to remind motorists that speed limits are not targets.

A spokesperson for Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council said: “On Wednesday, July 15, a Community Speed watch exercise was carried out in Chilsworthy between 16.30 and 17.30

“70 vehicles passed through the village in that time.

“15 vehicles exceeded 35 miles per hour and five vehicles registered as being over 40 miles per hour.

“The fastest vehicle recorded was travelling at 47 miles per hour.

“We are all aware of the recent road traffic accidents in the area and would ask all road users to exercise care when travelling through any of the Holsworthy and Hamlets area. The speed limits are guides and not targets.”