Town centre speed problems

An inner loop of Oswestry is being used as a track by a group of drivers, town councillors have said.

They are calling for more help from the police in dealing with the problem.

At a meeting of Oswestry town council's development and planning committee councillors discussed road safety issues in the area.

Several councillors brought up the problem of a minority of drivers going too fast along Willow Street and into Welsh Walls.

Councillor Peter Cherrington said: "They are using a loop of Willow Street, Welsh Walls and Church Street as a racetrack."

Councillor Steve Mason said the council should ask the police to use mobile speed cameras to prosecute the culprits.

However, the meeting heard that before officers would act there is a policy that has to be followed with Councillor Claire Aspinall saying: "Special speed strips first have to be placed on a road for a certain length of time to monitor the percentage of motorists speeding. If the town council wanted to it could arrange for them to be put on the road. The equipment costs £550."

There was a suggestion from Councillor Mike Isherwood that there could be a joint operation with VOSA the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

Councillors agreed to write to West Mercia police asking for help in dealing with the speeding problem and also to work alongside the town's own CCTV system.

Councillor Cherrington said: "We should monitor the cameras to see which cars are using this loop. It maybe that we could position a mobile CCTV camera along the route."

There were also calls for the police to enforce the double yellow lines on Leg Street in the town.

Councillor John Price said: "Vehicles park up outside take-aways in Leg Street and it is obvious they are not simply loading and unloading as they are there for a long time.

"They are causing real traffic problems. If the double yellow lines are not enforced soon then there is going to be a bump or someone is going to get hurt."