POLICE took action when residents complained about vehicles speeding down a high street. Since the Baldock bypass opened in March, traffic jams in the town have largely become a thing of the past. Now residents are reporting vehicles driving over the spee

POLICE took action when residents complained about vehicles speeding down a high street.

Since the Baldock bypass opened in March, traffic jams in the town have largely become a thing of the past.

Now residents are reporting vehicles driving over the speed limit through the town centre.

In response to these concerns, community inspector Geoff Camp and PCSO Chris Nash set up a speed monitor on the High Street yesterday (Wednesday).

Insp Camp said: "Since the bypass was built there has been a perception that the speed of vehicles going through Baldock has increased.

"We want to educate people that when they speed it's inappropriate, especially because there are often children around.

"It's not a police clampdown. We want to build a picture at different times of the day to see if the perception of residents is right."

A sign at the side of the road detected the speed of vehicles and lit up with a smiley face for those driving under 30mph and a frowning face for those driving over the speed limit.

Anyone seen to be breaking the law was pulled over to the side of the road.

In two hours, 11 verbal warnings were delivered to people driving marginally over the 30mph speed limit and five £30 fines were issued to people not wearing seatbelts.

Cllr Michael Muir said: "The only real chance we stand of stopping the speeding is in the design of the town. As soon as they take these things away it will start up again. We need to look at ways of planning the town with speeding in mind."

Cllr Ian Knighton said: "I'm pleased the police have responded so positively to our concerns and are taking this action."

The police will carry out further speed checks over the next few weeks.