Market Drayton says no to police cash plea

Councillors in north Shropshire have refused a bid for funding from police in a row over a perceived lack of support from the force for setting up a community speed watch scheme in Market Drayton.

West Mercia Police applied to Market Drayton Local Joint Committee for £500 towards its Community Reparation Project.

But councillors refused to back the bid saying it would be improper to give funds to the force just weeks after officers cited a lack of funding as the reason police could not help residents launch a scheme to curb the menace of speeding drivers themselves.

Roger Hughes, Shropshire Council member for Market Drayton West, said residents in the Walkmill Road area had long called for police help to train them in using a hand-held speed gun so the scheme could launch.

Organisers of the speed watch group have funding in place to purchase the equipment but just need training from police to get up and running, he added.

He said: "For some time we have been trying to get a community speed watch going in town and we've been told by the police there's is no funding any more."

The police bid was for a project designed to "introduce restorative practices into community resolutions". A report to the LJC continued: "This funding will pay for equipment, access, transport and activities for the young people on the scheme."