A SPEED gate is set to be installed in Warndon Villages – but the councillor leading the scheme believes locals are as much to blame for the speed problems as the “boy racer” community, if not more.

Councillor Ray Morris, of Warndon Parish Council, has been reviewing speeding issues on the estate for 14 years and claims the problem has improved “tenfold” in the last few years.

And, despite residents complaints about the number of modified cars in the Villages of late, causing noise and speed issues at night, Cllr Morris believes the problem is not as clear cut.

“We’ve got our electronically activated speed signs, and I can tell you from just standing there, I see loads of them and I tell you they’re not people from [boy racer] clubs or outside, they are locals,” he said.

“They may only be doing 10 miles an hour over, but they’re still speeding. And it’s noticeable.”

Cllr Morris, who was speaking at a public meeting last week at Lyppard Hub, held to discuss the issue of car enthusiasts on the estate, said the main problem is on Plantation Drive.

The 30mph road comes directly off a bypass and, while already housing an electronic speed sign, is getting a speed gate installed before the end of the month.

"I just want to make sure we don’t let this thing get out of perspective,” he continued. “Noises are damned annoying, and everyone’s got their right to complain. Speed is more annoying because it can cause death and all sorts of injuries.

“But I believe the Villages has improved tenfold from what it was in 2013/14 and even then it was mostly out on the bypass, it wasn’t in the Villages themselves.”

He said the council is trying to do “various things” to help ease the issue, on top of the speed gate, including “moving that machine around the five feeder roads.”

“The worst by any doubt is Plantation Drive and on that basis we’re putting up what they call gateways, the white give-bar gates inside the road and there will be a big sign on the road saying 30mph limit.

“In all fairness, you come off that bypass [and] you don’t really see the 30mph speed limit.”

Warndon Safer Neighbour Team members PCs Lauren Hasted and Jason Hart encouraged those at the meeting to report noise and speeding issues to 101 to allow local officers to build up a better picture of the problem.

Cllr Morris said residents are often reluctant to call 101 because they want “urgency” – but “that’s not the intention of 101 – it’s plan things on a map.”

“I have to more or less force people to ring, keep ringing, because it’s the only way you get action,” he said.

He went on to say that Warndon seems to regularly have a “lot of different police” – meaning new officers have to be clued about the issues, which often slows down any resolutions.

Police are encouraging residents to report issues to 101.

A West Mercia Police spokeswoman said: “We would encourage members of the community to report all instances of vehicle related anti-social behaviour to 101 at the time the incident occurs.

“This will mean that officers can be more effectively deployed. In particular, please provide us with the full registration and a description of the vehicles involved.”