Road safety campaigners pledged today to monitor Swindon closely when it becomes the first town in the UK to scrap fixed-point speed cameras.

The nine-strong cabinet of Tory-run Swindon Borough Council last night voted unanimously in favour of withdrawing from the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership.

The idea was first suggested a year ago by Peter Greenhalgh, councillor for highways in Swindon, who objected to central Government receiving the cash from fines while Swindon Council had to pay £320,000 a ear for the cameras' upkeep.

He has in the past branded speed cameras a "blatant tax on motorists".

His stance on the issue saw him hailed as a hero on BBC motoring programme Top Gear earlier this year.

Speaking last night after the vote, Mr Greenhalgh said: "I understand we are the first council in Britain to get rid of fixed-point speed cameras."

He said 70 people in 2007/08 had been killed on the streets of Swindon - proof speed cameras were not making roads safer and the reason why council cash should be spent on other safety measures.

New road safety measures being considered by the council include education and training for motorists and beter street lighting and reduced speed limits in problem areas.

Despite the end of speed traps in the town, police will continue to use mobile speed-measuring devices.

Mr Greenhalgh added: "We will be working very closely with our partners, including police in the road safety partnership, to deliver a plan that reduced the number of people being killed on the roads in Swindon."

There are currently eight fixed-point cameras in Swindon - six speed cameras and two red light cameras, police said.

The speed cameras are set to be taken down in six months time when the partnership deal ends.

But a spokesman for RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) warned today they would be "monitoring the results" to see if any fatalities occurred on Swindon roads where cameras once stood.

He added: "Speed cameras have been shown to reduce casualties. If people think they are not going to get caught then those more inclined to speed are more likely to take a chance and break speed limits."

Derique Montaut, a Labour councillor in Swindon who objected to the funding withdrawal, told the BBC speed cameras have been "shown to have saved lives".

David Ainsworth, Wiltshire's deputy chief constable, said police were urging the council to consult them before they "physically remove any camera".

He added: "Police will not compromise on public safety. Together with other partners in the road safety partnership Wiltshire Police remain committed to the support of a variety of methods, including the use of cameras in speed enforcement."

  • According to Wiltshire police, 13% of road deaths nationally in 2007 were due to exceeding the speed limit (not the same as too fast for conditions), as were 8% of all serious injury collisions and 5% of all slight injury collisions.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: "It is fine to remove cameras if they are replaced by cops in cars and interactive slow down signs.

However, we do not want to see a road safety void in Swindon. Saving lives on the road is more important than party political wrangles over camera funding."

Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said: "Swindon council has taken an interesting step in seeking to broaden the approach they use to improve road safety and to save lives.

"It is clear that there are important road safety concerns that cameras cannot solve so we await with interest the results of the new approach in Swindon to see if lessons can be learned about the most effective way to make our roads safer."

Brake, the national road safety charity, said it was "appalled" at Swindon Borough Council's decision.

Jane Whitham said: "In removing its speed cameras, Swindon Borough Council is entering into a very dangerous experiment with people's lives.

"Staying within speed limits is essential for everyone's safety and speed cameras are an important tool in catching drivers who insist on breaking the law and putting lives in danger."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The Government gives councils £110 million each year for road safety which they can spend on whatever measures best suit their local problems.

"Safety cameras are there to save lives, not make money. To ensure that local partnerships have no incentive to try to raise money from cameras, fines are paid into a central fund rather than directly to those partnerships.

"In 2006/7 a total of £104 million was paid in fines - and the Government invested £110 million in road safety grants."