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By Aaron Ibanez - Local Democracy Reporter

Malew Commissioners have purchased a speed gun to monitor what it say is an ongoing traffic problem in Ballasalla.

 

In a bid to have the Department of Infrastructure bring in road calming measures, it’s hoped the £140 monitoring device will help to build a case for the commissioners.

 

Chairman Nigel Bazley, who says he’s been involved in some close calls with drivers as a pedestrian, wants to reduce near misses in the village to zero.

 

‘We can’t carry on like this. We’ve got young, elderly people, couple that with people not obeying the 20mph limit, you’re on the road to a disaster waiting to happen.

 

Mr Bazley says the commissioners intend to collate data and see the ‘black spots’ where drivers speeding more often.

 

‘We then want to present that to the DoI and the police, and come up with some traffic calming measures on systems that are going to work.’

 

‘It’s only a matter of time before something tragic happens and we don’t want that.

 

The commissioners hope to have enough data in the next three months to ‘start pressurising the DoI to come up with some ideas.’

 

‘We’re not interested in people on 60[mph] limits or unrestricted roads’ says the chair, ‘we’re just interested in our villages and keeping them under control.’

 

Clerk for the commissioners Barry Powell, added the decision to purchase the speed gun was brought on by a lack of traffic passing through the village during the Covid lockdown.

 

He wants to emphasise to drivers that the commissioners will not be compiling number plates.

 

‘We just want stats to back up the claims that people are speeding.

 

‘So rather than use anecdotal evidence we want to get some hard facts.

 

As restrictions have gradually lifted, the commissioners have praised the police who have been monitoring traffic on the A7 following complaints.

 

A recent survey from the constabulary’s roads policing unit showed that over 60% of vehicles were speeding in the 20mph zone.

 

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