SPEED conscious residents are being urged to come forward and make Kingsmead a safer place.

The village is now an official community speedwatch area but volunteers are needed to make sure drivers stick to the speed limit.

Kingsmead Parish Council members, who have been trained to use the speed guns, said that so far only five people have come forward from the community for training.

At the latest parish council meeting Cllr Chris Reed said: "I'm disappointed that we've only got five outside of the council.

"I don't want it to be just us doing it.

"I want it to be the community and we are the catalyst to make it happen."

Kingsmead has a 40mph limit on the spine road through the estate, 30mph limits on residential roads and a 20mph zone in Monarch Drive, which was set up in June last year.

Residents campaigned for measures on Monarch Drive for years because of concerns that the road was being used as a rat run.

But councillors fear that the emphasis on the Monarch Drive zone has put off residents from other areas of the village from volunteering.

Cllr Laura Hoey, parish council chairman, said: "There's always lots of people ranting about speed, people speed down Regency Way, Moor Park Way, St George's Way."

Cllr Reed said: "A couple of the group we've got are from outside Monarch Drive but we need to push the point that it's not just Monarch Drive."

Anyone interested in finding out more or joining the community speedwatch group should ring Jo O'Donoghue, parish council clerk, on 01606 41862 or email clerk@kingsmeadpc.org.uk