Speeding farmers on mobile phones upset villagers
Farmers chatting on mobile phones while speeding around a Staffordshire village in their tractors have sparked the anger of locals.
Police have been forced to mount a campaign to curb the problem in Penkridge and have been visiting farmers and their staff about residents' safety concerns and warning them of the penalties.
The problems are said to centre around Teddesley Road where there were also calls today for its 60mph limit to be reduced to slow down other speeding drivers.
In a statement to residents, Staffordshire Police said: "You said tractors and farm vehicles are travelling down Teddesley Road at speed while the drivers are talking on mobile phones.
"We spoke to the wildlife officer who visits farms on a regular basis. He will be advising all farm workers who use vehicles on the road about the consequences of driving whilst using a mobile phone and the penalties should they be caught."
Councillors say the road is an accident waiting to happen.
Penkridge parish councillor Veronica Downes said: "It really is a wonderful road and it's just been re-done.
"The work was only done on it a few months ago, but it has so many bends and the new surface is just encouraging people to put their foot down.
"At the moment, with the leaves, rain and ice the conditions are really dangerous on that road."
Fellow parish councillor Bevan Craddock echoed her views, saying a roundabout has already had to be put in place in a bid to stop people speeding through into the village.
Councillor Craddock said: "It's a road that's used by a lot of people, especially by those coming from Brocton to Cannock.
"Speeding traffic has been a problem down that road. People have to be so careful driving down there, and if they're big vehicles like tractors they have to be even more careful."
