A WHEELIE innovative idea is being trialled in Kingsmead and Davenham to crackdown on speeding motorists.

Residents in Monarch Drive, in Kingsmead, have been given 20mph stickers for their wheelie bins by their parish council.

Davenham Parish Council plans to do the same and give out stickers in speeding hot spots of Church Street, Hartford Road and London Road, which make up part of the village's new 20mph.

Monarch Drive became a 20mph zone in June last year after years of campaigning but residents and Kingsmead Parish Council fear that motorists are not obeying the new restriction.

Residents Steve and Cath Thomas, of Monarch Drive, have joined the sticker campaign.

"Since we moved in around 13 years ago, the traffic has gradually increased in volume as would be expected with the increase in housing," they said, "The road was, we guess, designed for a 30mph limit but as it has matured, with planting, parked cars, blocked sight lines and increased pedestrian usage, 30mph seems a bit quick so we have supported the campaign to reduce the limit to 20mph.

"Since it's introduction, though, there has been very little change in the perceived speed of traffic past our house.

"There is anecdotal evidence that people are more likely to abide by lower speed limits if they perceive that the people whose houses they drive past have some ownership of the lower limit.

"One of our parish councillors, Chris Reed, came round with them a few weeks ago and, like most other residents, we thought it was a good way to raise people's awareness of the 20mph limit, if only once a week, and to show people that the people who live here were on board with it."

Davenham Parish Council voted to buy some stickers for residents at their latest meeting.

Cllr Katie Mattinson, council chairman, said: "I think it's the visual impact of the stickers on a number of bins.

"Residents have highlighted that people still aren't aware of the 20mph zone so maybe we start in a few of the problem areas where we know residents aren't happy."