Shropshire Star

Road safety dismay as Shropshire village's fake 'speed camera' box stolen

A fake speed camera that was put up in a Shropshire village to slow down motorists has been stolen.

Published

The yellow painted cardboard box was put up in desperation on the side of the road in the centre of Knockin, near Oswestry, by resident Peter Richardson.

But within a couple of weeks the makeshift device had vanished.

Julie Stevenson, from The Knockin Shop in the village, said she was very disappointed by the theft.

She said: "Someone stole the box last week. To be honest I think it's disgusting.

"It was put up in an attempt to slow vehicles down and it was working.

"The motorists really did put the brakes on when they saw the box. Why someone would take it I have no idea."

Residents, who are now bracing themselves for a busy bank holiday weekend, say they have been calling for traffic calming for the busy road for years.

Drivers use the road as a short cut from the Midlands and Shrewsbury to the Welsh coast.

Shropshire Council endorsed that the camera, saying it could stay until a speed-activated flashing sign is installed later this year.

Garth Proffitt, spokesman for the council, said: "We recognise that there's a problem with speeding traffic through Knockin and sympathise with the residents' concerns.

"Later this year we're planning to install a permanent vehicle-activated sign which flashes up a reminder of the 30mph speed limit to drivers, and we're happy for the fake camera to stay in place until this sign is installed."

A speed limit of 30mph was introduced in the village in 2009, but Mr Richardson and his wife Lisa said motorists regularly travel through the village at much higher speeds.

Mrs Richardson said: "The speed that drivers go through Knockin is crazy.

"We have a lot of young children and a lot of older people live here.

"There have already been pets killed on the road and if we don't do something ourselves I worry that a child will be next."

Mr and Mrs Richardson were not available for comment on the theft.

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