MOTORISTS have been urged not to waste their money on speeding tickets as the cost of living increases.
The Buckley Community Speedwatch Team were at the roadside on nine occasions throughout March, clocking up 55 hours of work overall.
During those sessions, 100 individuals were recorded speeding.
Of those, 93 were reported and will receive cautionary letters urging them to be better and more attentive drivers.
The highest speed of the month was 51 miles per hour in Bryn-y-Baal Road, a 30 mile per hour zone near Argoed School.
READ MORE: More than 1,600 speeding motorists clocked by Buckley team in 2021
Cllr Arnold Woolley, who leads the team, said while the town's 20mph pilot project is not yet resulting in penalties - getting landed with avoidable fines when the scheme does commence in full could make a crucial difference to residents' finances.
"My plea to people is to take note and don't end up with a formal speeding ticket," he said.
"My concern is, we know the cost of living is going up - petrol, electric, gas, everything.
READ MORE: More than 100 speeders clocked by Buckley team in February
"We don't want to see people punished - everyone needs every penny they have.
"People are going to be struggling and as a long serving ex-member of the Citizens Advice Bureau, my belief is that we really need to try and help people stay out of debt.
"Losing money for speeding fines is something that should and can be avoided."
Setting out Buckley's 20mph scheme progress, a North Wales Police spokesman said: "The signs and lines are now in place at each of the 20mph areas. There are 10 locations in total.
"Each 20mph location has a sensor to record the volume and speed of traffic. Transport for Wales will gather the data from each location.
"Between now and April 28 there will be no enforcement or education.
"This period will allow time for the communications to take place and the public to get used to the changes.
"The Local Authority and Welsh Government have responsibility for the communications during this stage.
"From April 28 the data and public feedback will be analysed and the only enforcement and engagement that will take place will be from the local Community Speed Watch Scheme.
"They have 18 members who will be visible in the areas that have been highlighted from the data. Letters will initially be sent out to those caught speeding.
"From June 23 another review will take place where we will look at compliance and the further options that are available to us, such as engagement with the schools via the LA Road Safety Officer, NWFRS and the Neighbourhood Policing Teams or joint operations with NWFRS to provide education at the roadside. A programme is already in place for this.
"Bryn Road is due to have average speed cameras - there will be two, possibly three cameras to cover this area. Work is due to start imminently on erecting these."
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We are currently trialling the implementation of 20mph zones across strategically chosen communities before plans to make it the legal default speed limit on all restricted Welsh roads next year.
“The purpose of this is to learn lessons before national implementation. Subject to these lessons, the speed limit will remain 20mph until full national roll-out in 2023.
“Whilst prosecutions will take place at some point in the future, there are no plans for this to commence in April.”
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