Council accused over plans to scrap all speed cameras on Swindon roads

9:20am Wednesday 15th October 2008

By James Wallin

SWINDON council could have “blood on its hands”, say opponents of its plans to scrap the town’s speed cameras.

Councillors are expected to agree a proposal to withdraw from the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership at a meeting next Wednesday.

Coun Peter Greenhalgh, lead member for highways, transport and strategic planning, said that money currently spent on the partnership will be ploughed into a range of schemes to reduce road casualties.

But he admitted that in the short term the council would have to meet the cost of withdrawal, which could be up to £360,000.

Derique Montaut, Labour’s transport spokesman, said: “The proposal to withdraw from the Safety Camera Partnership is absolute madness. This is Swindon Council playing politics with people’s lives.

“Swindon has had problems of boy racers in the past, and this will make the situation worse.

“Only three months ago the Tories agreed to continue funding for the Safety Camera Partnership now they want to use more tax payers’ money in withdrawing from it.

“Sadly, this whole review was started as a political ruse to embarrass the government over road safety funding within Swindon.

“As the debate has gone on it is clear that, not only does Swindon benefit from Government funding on road safety, the number of accidents have been reduced due to the introduction of speed cameras. Coun Greenhalgh has left himself in a political hole and he is too arrogant to admit that he is wrong.

“I am worried that the council will end up with blood on its hands over this issue.”

Coun Greenhalgh, who instigated the plans, said: “This is not about speed cameras, this is about reducing accidents on our roads and finding the best way to do that.

“This is not a frivolous decision – we commissioned a report from the Transport Research Laboratory, and we have looked carefully at those conclusions.

“It showed that the problems on our roads are attributable to a number of factors.

“I believe we can use the money currently spent on the partnership more effectively.

“This is not about publicity, or people thinking I’m a great guy, this about safety on our roads.”

Among the measures being considered by the council are publicity and education campaigns targeted at young, vulnerable or novice road users. Better police enforcement, vehicle-activated speed warning signs and engineering solutions such as improvements to lighting and junctions will be investigated.

Coun Greenhalgh said: “We will have to cover the cost of the withdrawal, which is a maximum of £360,000, but as Swindon only has a couple of speed cameras I wouldn’t expect the figure to be that high. We are waiting to hear how many staff at the partnership may be affected by this.”