'These people who decide to speed could take someone out!'

Police have been carrying out speed checks in an area where more than 100 people were recently caught out. The officers from the Westhoughton Neighbourhood Team were carrying out the checks on Southfield Drive and Eatock Way yesterday as part of a crackdown on dangerous driving. This comes amid long running complaints and concerns about speeding across the town, some of them having led to injuries and fatalities in recent years.

Speaking to The Bolton News Cllr David Wilkinson of Westhoughton South said: “Most of the roads in the area now have a 20mph speed limit. “But when these speed checks are carried out, it becomes obvious that a lot of people are travelling over this limit. We heard at the PACT meeting last month that around 120 people were caught speeding in Westhoughton by officers.



Southfield Drive in Westhoughton (Image: Google Maps) “It’s a huge concern of residents here, it’s a residential area and people have children. Unfortunately, we have had deaths in the area as a result of dangerous driving. “Southfield Drive is not too far from where I live and I can hear people at all hours speeding down the road.

Some of them are driving ridiculously fast. “Just one mistake and it could be fatal, these people who decide to speed could take someone out. “The Neighbourhood Policing Service are looking to tackle speeding.

There are pedestrians, cyclist, children and it’s just not worth risking your own life or someone else’s life due to carelessness.” READ MORE: Westhoughton police give update on crime in the area Westhoughton: Fly-tipping is out of control say litter-pickers Bolton police investigation thefts want to talk to this woman Cllr Wilkinson had been referring to a meeting of concerned residents at Westhoughton's most recent Police and Community Together meeting, which was held last month. The police officers out on Southfield Drive and Eatock Way handed down several penalties to speeding drivers as part of their crackdown.

Two drivers were issued Traffic Offence Reports for excess speed and a number of drivers were given words advice. The PCSO’s also completed street surgeries on Green Fold Lane and The Pungle speaking to residents about the benefits of signing up to Bee in the Loop information service..