CONCERNS have been raised that a state-of-the-art speed gun is still not being used to its full potential.

Redbridge Council’s area one committee purchased the £3,000 device for police to tackle speeding motorists, but it has not been used in Wanstead in the last three months.

Cyclist Gill Jones, of Aldersbrook Road, told the Guardian that it can be quite nerve-racking for people on bikes.

She added: “I think the speed gun should be used more as one of a number of measures to make the road safer.

“People in the area can be quite impatient, especially during the school run when parents can get very distracted.”

Wanstead ward councillor Michelle Dunn felt an explanation was necessary on why the resource was not being used.

She said: “I’m feeling disgruntled as this is the third report back to area one. It was £3,000 from our discretionary budget but we are still disappointed with the result.”

The speed gun was used for 14 hours in various locations in Snaresbrook ward between June 26 and August 15, but not once in Wanstead.

During this time 13 vehicles were stopped and five people were prosecuted for offences such as not wearing a seatbelt, using mobile phones or driving without insurance - although none for speeding.

Snaresbrook ward Cllr Sue Nolan wanted to know why Spratt Hall Road was not targeted as it was specifically requested in the previous area one meeting.

She added: “What we need to do is meet with local Safer Neighbourhoods Teams as there are many questions and we have been patient.”

The Guardian highlighted in June that the speed gun had been used in Snaresbrook for less than 36 hours in the previous year.

PC Jonathan Kiely of Snaresbrook Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) explained that Wanstead SNT did not currently have a Police Constable but only Police Community Support Officers who were not permitted to use the gun.

He said: “While it’s not my place to comment on another team I do take on board that it’s not to your satisfaction.

“We did look at Spratt Hall Road but with the number of cars that are parked there we would need to step out between cars and that’s a risk we were not prepared to take.

“And we are standing there with high visibility jackets so drivers can see what we are going to do.”