A SERIES of rat runs in Halesowen will be targeted as part of a new Community Speedwatch drive to crack down on speeding motorists.

Halesowen North councillors Hilary Bills and Parmjit Sahota along with the ward's former UKIP councillor Stuart Henley will be out and about on a series of roads after complaints from residents concerned about speeding motorists putting lives in danger.

Narrow Lane near Hurst Green Primary (pictured below), Landsdowne Road, Long Lane, Fairfield Road and Woodbury Road have been earmarked as problem roads which will be the site of the Shell Corner Partnership Community Speedwatch patrols.

Halesowen News:

Cllr Bills said speeding motorists who are doing 35mph and above in a 30mph limit and 46mph and above in a 40mph limit will be sent warning letters, not fines, by the police.

She said the group bought the speed gun back in 2017 - but due to police cuts they have struggled to get out and about to use it - as a police officer or PCSO must be present when the speed gun is used.

Hilary said: "We have got our own speeding gun which we spent £2k on - with funds from the Proceeds of Crime Chest and from community forum.

"We have been contacted recently by the ward's two PCSOs who asked us to go back and refresh our training to rejuvinate the Speedwatch group

"I think the residents will be happy that it's coming back.

"There are certain roads where if people know there's nothing coming the other way they put their foot down and roads that are used as rat runs.

"We want people to think they never know when someone might be watching.

"A police officer or PCSO has to be there and you can't issue fines - it's to remind people to slow down and to be considerate."

The group carried out their training last week.

The Community Speedwatch initiative, which is run across the country, aims to reduce death and injury on the roads and improve the quality of life for local communities.

It is designed to help police identify areas where enforcement action is needed.

In cases where warning letters are blatantly ignored and evidence of repeat or excessive offences is collated, enforcement and prosecution follow.