I was fuming at boy-racers speeding through my neighbourhood after council failed to stop them… so I got my revenge
A FUMING resident has revealed how he got his revenge on boy racers speeding through his neighbourhood after the council failed to stop them.
Paul Hooper, 57, from Swansea, said that reckless drivers thundered down his road so quickly that the police couldn’t catch them – until he splashed out on a £3,000 speed camera.
He said that a local family was nearly killed by one speeding driver and that noise pollution from misfiring engines had angered customers at his cafe.
But Paul came up with a way of getting revenge on the boy racers after he lost his patience with the local council’s inaction.
The cafe owner put up a £3,000 speed camera, which he claims has picked up one vehicle travelling at 106mph and many others exceeding 70mph.
Paul now plans to ask the council for planning permission to switch on a flashing sign warning drivers to slow down.
But he is so frustrated he might switch on the sign even if he doesn’t get the council’s approval.
He said: “Oystermouth Road is definitely up there as one of the fastest 30mph roads in the UK.
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“Some vehicles are going so fast that the police couldn’t even chase them.
“It’s a matter of time before someone gets killed. There’s already been a near miss on the cafe.
“A vehicle just missed a family in front of the cafe because it was going so fast it couldn’t brake in time when the lights changed.”
Swansea Council told Paul that the majority of traffic on the road travelled within the speed limit and that there was no need for speed cameras – so he took matters into his own hands.
Paul said: “Saying most cars travel under 30mph is just insulting to residents. Everyone knows how bad the road is.
“Either they are knowingly ignoring the issue or they just don’t understand the error they are making.”
“I cannot fathom why the council is not doing anything as their offices are 100m up the road.
“It’s almost like they don’t want to slow the traffic down – they simply don’t want to admit they’ve got it wrong.
“The council are too arrogant to admit they are wrong and too inept to realise it.”
Paul added: “The results of the speed survey are staggering.
“I will be turning the sign on with or without the council’s permission. The radar sign is on my property.
“If I have to go to court over the issue and expose the council’s error and inaction then I will.”
Paul claims he has the support of the local police force, who he says have now permanently parked a van on the road to catch boy racers.
Swansea Council said: “We regularly monitor the speed of cars travelling along Oystermouth Road, which show that the majority of traffic travels within the speed limit.
“A very low number of minor traffic incidents along this route in recent years means it is unlikely there would be a need for additional traffic calming measures.”