Drivers going too fast along notorious A697

Community Speed Watch volunteers clocked motorists going too fast at Powburn, Longhorsley and Longframlington.

The figures have been released as part of the police’s recent Coquetdale Community Message update.

Two separate sessions were carried out at Longhorsley and 81 drivers were speeding out of 700 vehicles recorded.

A session on February 11, clocked 33 going too fast from 300, while the next, on February 18, registered 48 exceeding the limit out of 400 counted.

On February 23, volunteers clocked three speeding drivers out of 50 at Powburn, while 11 out of 400 were going too fast at Longframlington on February 25.

All four sessions were done in the morning, with start times ranging from 9.35am to 10am.

Aside from Speed Watch, the Community Message states that police received reports of seven incidents in the Coquetdale area during February. Of these, inquiries are continuing into an alleged malicious communication in Rothbury, between the start of January and the middle of February. Police said a report was received concerning the sending of a letter which was false, causing distress and anxiety.

In Powburn, a quantity of wood was stolen from a private driveway in Crawley View between 9am and noon on February 4, while drills, chainsaws and other tools were stolen from an insecure garage at Studley Drive, Swarland, between 4pm and 8.30pm on January 31.

How does Speed Watch work?

Volunteers set up watch in a designated spot, using measuring equipment to record the speed of passing vehicles. Details are noted of any vehicles that are speeding. Working with the local Neighbourhood Policing Team, a letter is then sent to motorists about their speeding. If the same driver is identified as speeding in the area a number of times then officers will make contact with the driver and action may be taken.