CALLS have been renewed for red light cameras to be installed in Thamesdown Drive following a residents’ meeting in North Swindon.

MP Justin Tomlinson on Friday held a drop-in session for people to discuss a variety of issues, one of which was to scrutinise plans to install CCTV cameras in the notoriously dangerous Thamesdown Drive.

Former Haydon Wick parish councillor John Stooke has long called for the council to introduce safety measures on the busy 40mph road.

Following the informal drop-in session, Mr Stooke urged the local authority “to finally and permanently fix this long-standing and ongoing highway safety issue in North Swindon”.

The council presented a plan to employ CCTV cameras on the junction just outside the Orbital Shopping Park.

This camera would be monitored remotely, with footage only being recovered if there was an accident.

But Mr Stooke and others were not convinced that this is the best solution. They instead suggested that red light cameras, catching drivers running red lights, would be more effective.

Mr Stooke said: “They all agreed this would be a much better overall solution, but described the conundrum that the borough council has to install, maintain and administer any fines collection, while the Government pockets all the income.

“Once installed in Thamesdown Drive, such cameras would be cost-effective, fully computerised and cheap to run, reasonably cheap to install and easy to maintain.”

However, after already committing to the introduction of CCTV, it is thought unlikely that the council will stretch to red light cameras.

In a previous statement, a council spokesman said: “Plans are now in place to install CCTV cameras, initially at the Orbital Retail Park junction, which will monitor driver behaviour and relay images to our CCTV control room. Footage would then be made available to the police to assist them with prosecutions.”

Mr Tomlinson, who hosted the event at his Orbital Centre offices, said: “I was very grateful to the police, officers and councillors for attending this informal event, allowing residents to be updated on planned works, raise concerns and put forward their own suggestions.

“There was a fantastic turnout, and I had very positive feedback from residents who attended as they were able to engage and shape the work of the police and council going forward.”