The Parish Council (PC) has the opportunity to join an initiative to trial the use of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera in the village with a view of tackling speeding.
Suffolk County Council in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Constabulary (the Suffolk Roadsafe Partnership), will run a pilot scheme using ANPR cameras across the county for two years.
The cameras will be used to help detect and deter speeding offences that have been highlighted in towns and villages, and educate drivers on the importance of road safety.
Our current Speed Indicating Device (SID) shows that of the average 15,000 vehicles a month which pass the unit 85% exceed the limit in the 20mph zone which brackets the school building. The PC hopes that the ANPR camera will help moderate the behaviour of drivers who exceed the speed limit as the unit records and displays their registration number along with the vehicle speed.
The PC is keen to join in this initiative with part of the application process requiring confirmation that we have consulted with the residents about the siting of any additional post needed for the ANPR unit, if an existing post is not suitable, and to offer more information about the overall project.
After reading the guidance the current SID post immediately outside St Michael and All Angels would meet the required parameters.
If you would like to read more about the ANPR camera initiative the Occold Village Facebook page and the village website, www.occold.com, have further details about the application process and the background or you can visit www.suffolkroadsafe.com.
Please contact the PC on occoldparishcouncil@gmail.com or your local Councillor if you have any concerns or questions.
Colin Cripps
Chair – Occold Parish Council
April 2021