Volunteers sought to operate mobile speed cameras on three Greater Manchester roads

Thursday, 7 August 2025 13:54

By Chris Gee

Volunteers are being sought to operate mobile cameras enforcing speed limits on three roads in Bury.

Volunteers are being sought to operate mobile cameras enforcing speed limits on three roads in Bury. The police are asking for members of the community concerned about speeding drivers to apply to become a member of a newly created community speedwatch scheme.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) hope to set up small teams of volunteers who will be provided with speed detection devices, high visibility jackets
and training in order to monitor the speed of vehicles.

After recording details from the roadside the volunteers submit details of those exceeding the speed limit to the police.

The police said they would then issue advisory letters to vehicle owners and then potentially undertake enforcement activities if speeding is persistent.
GMP said that initially the volunteers will operate at three specified locations:
– Holcombe Road, Tottington
– Turton Road, Tottington
– Vernon Road, Greenmount

Sergeant Ella Starbuck, from the Ramsbottom neighbourhood police team, said: “I’m thrilled to announce the launch of our long awaited community speedwatch scheme (CSW).

“We are now calling on members of the community to volunteer and get involved in its delivery.

“The CSW scheme engages with local members of the community to enable them to volunteer in policing and be actively involved in monitoring
the speed of vehicles travelling through their neighbourhood, in areas where speeding has been identified as a priority.”

She added the aim of CSW scheme was to reduce death and injury on the roads, reduce the speed of vehicles to the speed limit, increase public awareness of inappropriate speed and improve the quality of life for local communities.

Police said the scheme was not intended to catch as many speeders as possible but to reduce speeds in areas of concern and to make drivers aware
that excessive speed within posted limits is socially unacceptable.

Elsewhere in Bury on Monday, August 4 officers in the Whitefield, Besses and Unsworth areas conducted several spontaneous speed operations targeting Parr Lane, Manchester Road, Hollins Lane, Thatch Leach Lane and Sunnybank Road.

Over the course of just an hour, 23 drivers exceeded the speed limit, the highest being 45mph in a 30mph zone.

Neighbourhood officers said errant drivers will receive correspondence in the post.