MORE than 50 people attended the first Police Forum of the year to hear the division's plans for 1998.

People expressed concerns to police chief Superintendent Kevin Mayhew and the panel on issues ranging from speeding traffic to community policing.

Max Derbyshire, of the Longshaw Street Community Centre, was worried that Bewsey wouldn't benefit from the new community officers because it was categorised in the central sector. Supt Mayhew said that all areas would receive equal attention from both community inspectors and sergeants and that if the initiative proved successful it could be expanded.

Other points raised included problem teenagers in Grappenhall, which Supt Mayhew said community officers would look into.

Speeding traffic was high on the agenda, with several residents worried about cars travelling too fast on the A57 through Great Sankey and on Gainsborough Road.

The view that more cameras and speed checks were needed was accepted by Sergeant John Hayes, of the town's traffic unit. He said however that a lack of resources - the unit has two mobile speed guns - prohibits extensive time in one area and that decisions on fixed-cameras are made by the county council.

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