Nowhere to run (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Nowhere to run

THE man in charge of Swindon's speed cameras has admitted that they fail to stop speeding motorists.

Now new methods are being employed to catch out more drivers who break the limit.

David Frampton, project manager of the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership, insists cameras are ineffective and proving too expensive to maintain.

He said: "In today's modern age, it is clear that fixed speed cameras are not technically efficient.

"The cameras have to be maintained properly and that costs a great deal of money. The wet film has to be collected, which is not easy.

"People know exactly where the cameras are. They slow down to pass them and then speed up."

Now Mr Frampton and his team are turning to more cunning methods in the form of mobile cameras to nail motorists who drive too fast.

At the moment, there are four vans with on-board recording equipment operating in Swindon. The partnership is hoping for six by April. Two civilian posts with starting salaries of £15,591 are currently being advertised.

One of the successful applicants will operate the partnership's newest weapon a Honda 650cc motorcycle fitted with cutting-edge surveillance equipment.

The bike will get a trial run next month and could be patrolling the streets as early as April.

Mr Frampton is confident the new appointments will keep the partnership on track to meeting its Government target to reduce road collisions in Swindon and Wiltshire by 40 per cent by 2010.

He said: "By the end of this year we will be able to show that these mobile cameras work and are more effective than fixed cameras at cutting the number of collisions."

He added that the bike would be particularly useful in outlying areas.

"I have spoken to parish and town councils around Swindon including Cricklade and Purton and they welcome it. A lot of people say speed is a problem in their areas.

"The bike will enable us to see if the perceived problem is real. We will then be able to take action."

A report out earlier this week shows nationally there are 10,000 requests a year from communities wanting some form of surveillance equipment. Figures would suggest that they are needed in the past year, between 35,000 and 40,000 speeding detections were made in Wiltshire. Half were in Swindon.

"We have got to cut this figure," said Mr Frampton. "Just a one per cent reduction in speed can lessen the chances of being involved in an accident by five per cent."

Godfrey Fowler, chairman of Purton Parish Council said: "In some parts of the country cameras have been used inappropriately to gather revenue.

"I am all for them if they improve safety. The mobile cameras will allow the partnership to deploy more easily."

Kevin Shoesmith

THE PARTNERSHIP HAS FIXED CAMERAS AT THESE LOCATIONS:

Two on the A420 at South Marston

One in Oxford Road, Stratton

One in Queens Drive, Swindon

One in Chiseldon

One in Lady Lane, Blunsdon (detects motorists who skip red lights)