Swindon council moving towards abolition of speed cameras

8:22am Tuesday 15th July 2008

Comments (2)   Have your say »

Speed cameras could be scrapped under proposals due to be considered by a Tory council, the leader said tonight.

Swindon Borough Council is reviewing its involvement with the local safety camera partnership scheme and considering whether to spend its GBP400,000-a-year contribution elsewhere.

Conservative councillors moved a motion on the issue two months ago, according to the leader, Councillor Roderick Bluh.

He said a full paper is due to be presented to Cabinet, which will consider the options for road safety spending.

A decision will be made by September.

Mr Bluh said: "We are not going to compromise safety, but we are taking the opportunity to review how we utilise the money.

"We have not made a decision yet.

"A huge amount of money is being raised by speed cameras and we are seeking better ways of ensuring road safety without penalising motorists."

It is believed to be the first time that a council in the UK has challenged the Government over the issue.

The Conservative-run council is considering withdrawing from the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership after a shake-up of speed camera funding rules which mean the Treasury now keeps the proceeds of fines.

The Government then makes road-safety grants to councils.

Ministers argue this breaks the controversial link between cash and camera, which critics had argued gave the authorities a financial incentive to fine more motorists.

Tory councillor Peter Greenhalgh, head of highways, transport and strategic planning for Swindon, reportedly said the money should be spent on a range of local safety measures.

"These are far more effective that speed cameras which, I feel, are a blatant tax on the motorist," he said.

"They are being used as a cash cow. I do take exception to the positioning of some mobile speed cameras. They are designed to raise revenue.

"I think enough is enough. There are much more important things we as a council should do instead of acting as a law enforcement arm of this Government."

But Labour MP Anne Snelgrove, parliamentary private secretary to Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, has accused council leaders of playing "politics with lives" and is calling on the council to drop the plans.

The MP for South Swindon said the removal of the cameras could see road accidents and deaths rise and has launched a Hands off Our Speed Cameras campaign: A spokesman for the Department of Transport said the funding decision was a local matter for Swindon, but added: "Safety cameras are there to save lives not to make money.

"There are 1,475 fewer deaths and serious injuries at camera sites each year.

"The Government is clear that the best safety camera is the one that takes no fines at all but succeeds in deterring drivers from speeding."

Do you think the council should abolish speed cameras? Click on comment to have your say.