A POLICE operation to clamp down on speeding motorists has been cautiously welcomed by residents, but concern has been raised about its findings.

Officers with speed cameras set up for a day on North Weald High Road to address residents' concerns following several fatalities including pensioner Peggy Dorrington, who died last year after being struck by a Range Rover.

Altogether police stopped 45 vehicles with three people caught speeding, three seen using mobile phones, and 35 observed failing to wear a seat belt. Five cars were also stopped by trading standards officers.

Essex Police said reaction to the operation was positive from residents, but some have questioned their tactics, including setting up in a highly visible area near the Thornhill junction.

Pat Kitson, the secretary at nearby Wheelers Farm Gardens Residents Association, said: “You could see them from miles away so everyone was coming through at a decent speed.

“It was very nice that they did it and the traffic was fine that day, but the next day the speeding was awful. You get young people in open top cars doing 40-50 mph.

“It was very good of them to do it, but it's not going to make a lot of difference.”

Drivers caught speeding or using their phone were fined £60 and three penalty points, while those without a seatbelt were fined £35.

PC Duncan Stableford said: “Having initiated the crackdown to address residents' concerns over speed raised at the local action panel meeting we found the general level of speeding was not as bad as perceived. However what was apparent was the fact a large number of people were failing to wear their seatbelts. This is a simple safety matter and will continue to be dealt with robustly in order to reduce casualties on our roads.”

Parish councillor Peter Collins, who has led the campaign to have a crossing installed near where Mrs Dorrington was hit, said he took issue with the idea speeding was an exaggerated concern.

He said: “It's an enormous problem. I do attend the Neighbourhood Action Panel meetings and this comes up every single time. It's a very big problem and another reason why we put together a safety plan on the road including the crossing. Hopefully when we get that it in will help.”

Commenting on the choice of location for the operation he added: “There's all sorts of things around human rights. You could ask the police to go round a corner and they'd get a lot more but they might say they can't do that.”