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Swindon councillors vote to scrap speed cameras (From Swindon Advertiser)
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with 'SWINDON NEWS'
Swindon councillors vote to scrap speed cameras
9:10am Thursday 23rd October 2008
IT IS not often history is made in a stuffy committee room within the bowels of Swindon Council’s Civic Offices.But the council’s cabinet has done just that.
The tension that enveloped Committee Room 6 last night was evident the moment councillors and hacks took their positions ahead of what will go down as a momentous decision in the town’s road safety strategy.
That Swindon Council will withdraw from the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership will hardly come as a surprise to those who have been following the speed camera debate in the Adver for the best part of 12 months.
And it will no doubt be greeted with joy by Top Gear loudmouth Jeremy Clarkson and his chums, who praised the council for suggesting that they would pull the plug on speed cameras in the borough.
Yet there was stunned disbelief from opposition councillors when Peter Greenhalgh, the council’s lead member for transport, and the rest of the cabinet stayed true to their word.
Labour’s transport spokesman Coun Derique Montaut clearly had not expected the cabinet to keep to their boast and began his speech to the room by congratulating them on backtracking from their original position – leading to much head scratching from cabinet members.
Coun Greenhalgh thanked the Adver for its balanced coverage of the debate, but stressed that the overall media portrayal had focused too much attention on speed cameras.
He said: “I have said time and time again that this is not about speed cameras – this is about doing our best to reduce road accidents in Swindon.
“I did not become a councillor to be hailed as a hero on Top Gear. It’s very easy to make this a laughing matter but this a serious issue and that is how we have treated it.
“The issue is road safety – why am I the only one talking about people being killed on our roads?
“I have never said that speed cameras don’t work – of course they do. They are effective in stopping people speeding in a particular spot but they are not effective in stopping people being killed or seriously injured on our roads.
“The number of accidents on our roads has risen, despite the presence of speed cameras, and it’s clear that something has to be done about that.”
Opposition councillors put equally strong cases to the cabinet in defence of speed cameras, and routinely called on Coun Greenhalgh to confirm that speed cameras would disappear from Swindon’s roads. He refused to be drawn on this.
It was left to council leader Rod Bluh to sum up a groundbreaking decision that will be watched keenly by councils across the country.
Coun Bluh said: “Politics is about making policies and it is also about challenging policies if you do not believe they are working.
“If you think the status quo isn’t working then you need to challenge that, however difficult that challenge is. If we can’t do that then maybe we shouldn’t be councillors.”
And with that Swindon’s cabinet made one of the most difficult and scrutinised decisions they are ever likely to make. Speed cameras in Swindon may face the chop, but the debate around them has just begun.
* See today's paper for reaction and analysis.
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Your Say YourSwindon
Meldrews Dad, Wroughton says...
9:32am Thu 23 Oct 08
The flashing signs have certainly made me check my speed on clear roads and hills.
Now we just have to resist the Wiltshire police mobile units who persistently park illegally to raise their cash quota.
ourtone, says...
9:45am Thu 23 Oct 08
“Yet there was stunned disbelief from opposition councillors when Peter Greenhalgh, the council’s lead member for transport, and the rest of the cabinet stayed true to their word.”
I know, a politician keeping his word. Imagine that! It could even catch on.
“And it will no doubt be greeted with joy by Top Gear loudmouth Jeremy Clarkson and his chums”
It won’t just be the presenters of Top Gear who welcome this decision. Many people up and down the country who understand the truth will also welcome a sudden outbreak of common sense.
Fact – One size does not fit all.
Fact – Speed Cameras only catch people going too fast. They do nothing about careless, reckless, drunken, unlicensed drivers in uninsured, untaxed and defective vehicles.
Fact – The best Road policing strategy involves a variety of methods and approaches, which must be underpinned by, for want of a better word, plod on the prowl. We need police officers, out there, using their judgement, knowledge and experience to make the roads safer.
Casual Observer, Swindon says...
10:26am Thu 23 Oct 08
I got told off by Big Mac for being a Troll the other day.
'Big Mac' indeed, double whopper with cheese more like.
Always Grumpy, Swindon says...
11:00am Thu 23 Oct 08
Right, weekly bin collections now please, better policing and sorting out the disaster that's Swindon's town centre.
Casual Observer, Swindon says...
11:17am Thu 23 Oct 08
Bobfm, South Marston says...
11:21am Thu 23 Oct 08
What he doesn't of course say is that they can't happen unless his party take Britain out of the EU, as the collections are part of an EU directive.
nansview, Swindon says...
11:22am Thu 23 Oct 08
Meldrews Dad wrote:But where would you suggest they park then to operate the mobile units?
Congratulations to our councillors on wanting to spend the cash on real road safety equipment and not funding Mr Brown' stealth tax. The flashing signs have certainly made me check my speed on clear roads and hills. Now we just have to resist the Wiltshire police mobile units who persistently park illegally to raise their cash quota.
I thought the idea was that when we got rid of the static cameras, mobile units were to be encouraged as the element of surprise and not knowing where they are was the attraction?
I didn't think it would take long, before replacement mobile units became as unpopular as the static ones.
Alec@wotta-u.wanadoo.co.uk, Marlborough says...
11:27am Thu 23 Oct 08
Instead of additionally addressing the remaining causes of road deaths they have decided to remove the cameras! I trust they will carry out the same research after a year without and attend the funerals of all those killed with speed as a factor in the interim.
These cameras are not a tax on motorists they only affect drivers outside the law who are usually the cause of 'accidents'.
If ever I need a brain transplant I want a Swindon councillor's, that way I'm sure of getting one that hasn't been used!
Alec
Casual Observer, Swindon says...
11:29am Thu 23 Oct 08
We can't sustain burying all our rubbish and fortnightly collections encourage recycling.
Bobfm, South Marston says...
11:30am Thu 23 Oct 08
Worz, Wootton Bassett says...
12:25pm Thu 23 Oct 08
> I thought the idea was that when we got rid of the static cameras, mobile units were to be encouraged as the element of surprise and not knowing where they are was the attraction?
NOOOO! Hidden cameras do nothing except raise cash. At least fixed cameras slow traffic at the camera site (for all the good that does).
I'll say it again, the police need to catch bad drivers, not fast ones & bad drivers cannot be caught by standing still.
Looking at http://www.safetycam
eraswiltshire.co.uk/ I'm appalled to see the they have 27 speed cameras, but only three red light cameras. Please can we have it the other way round?
Big Mac, Old Town says...
12:27pm Thu 23 Oct 08
Casual Observer wrote:Thanks for your input to the speed camera debate.
"us Trolls"? I got told off by Big Mac for being a Troll the other day. 'Big Mac' indeed, double whopper with cheese more like.
Big Mac, Old Town says...
12:29pm Thu 23 Oct 08
Simply not true. The police and government statistics prove the fact that 95% of accidents occur were no speed limit is being broken.
The real problem is that speed cameras are of no use whatsoever for the majority of motorists on our roads who drive 'outside the law'.
ourtone, says...
12:40pm Thu 23 Oct 08
doo.co.uk,’s post, with corrections
Swindon council's research while safety cameras were in operation found that deaths on the road with speed as a factor were minimal. Obviously demonstrating the preventative effectiveness of such cameras.”
(ME) Not just SBC, but indeed the DoT and other government research bodies worldwide. They have all found a consistent trend. That excessive speed is only a factor in 5-7% of RTA’s.
“Instead of additionally addressing the remaining causes of road deaths they have decided to remove the cameras! “
(ME) Since speed is only a factor in 5-7% of RTA’s, they feel it is better for the people of Swindon if they do address the causes of the other 93-95%, hence they want to pull the money out of GATSO’s and invest in a diverse approach. So contrary to your comment, that is exactly what they are doing.
“I trust they will carry out the same research after a year without and attend the funerals of all those killed with speed as a factor in the interim. “
(ME) Why don’t you just accuse them of murdering babies too. Yes, people will continue to die in speed related RTA’s but SBC contend no more than the 5-7% of RTAs previously mentioned.
These cameras are not a tax on motorists they only affect drivers outside the law who are usually the cause of 'accidents'.
(ME) Since speed is only a factor in the aforementioned 5-7%, then contrary to what you say, these drivers are not ‘usually the cause of accidents.
If ever I need a brain transplant I want a Swindon councillor's, that way I'm sure of getting one that hasn't been used!
Alec
(ME) Well Alec, judging by the lack of thought and logic that went into your comments, your brain must be in good nick too.
I look forward to seeing your post in April 2010, apologising for being wrong and congratulating SBC on the success their policy has brought.
John Smith II, Swindon says...
12:41pm Thu 23 Oct 08
Big Mac, Old Town says...
12:49pm Thu 23 Oct 08
John Smith II wrote:Yes, and as revenues have been rising year on year, speed cameras don't stop people speeding either.
Surely speed cameras raise no revenue - it is people driving past them in excess of the legal speed limit that raise revenue!
And, as that's their sole purpose, they're a failure - no?
Everhopeful, says...
1:01pm Thu 23 Oct 08
EemBee, Swindon says...
1:08pm Thu 23 Oct 08
Bobfm, South Marston says...
1:25pm Thu 23 Oct 08
ourtone, says...
1:44pm Thu 23 Oct 08
1:01pm Thu 23 Oct 08
I am being asked to type 'warm-ball' as the security word. This has put me off contributing anything to this debate at this time ....
One of mine earlier was ‘huge-wife,’ and the comment is “enter what you see, , , , , “
Tonyblairisthedevil, says...
3:51pm Thu 23 Oct 08
Still i guess you can always get a job writing articles for the beano.
Your supposed to be impartial believe it or not.. From reading this article you wouldnt believe so
Casual Observer, Swindon says...
3:52pm Thu 23 Oct 08
Bobfm wrote:(sorry it's not relevant to this story but..)
CO, whether we can continue to landfill or not is quite academic to the argument about recycling. If you go to my website you will find a link to a video called Britain out of control. There you will see that LA's are actually recycling toxic waste and spreading it on farm land. There simply isn't a demand for recycled items, in the amounts envisaged by the EU.
Bob, I haven't got time right now to plough through stuff but, believe it or not, you are beginning to sway me with some of your UKIP arguments. I was thinking of voting Conservative in the next election but 'Big' Mac reminded me what the Tories are really like.
StFc, Swindon says...
4:01pm Thu 23 Oct 08
The Chrominator, Swindon says...
4:59pm Thu 23 Oct 08
StFc wrote:
Brilliant news!! i can speed every where & get where i want to go so much quicker.
Yes, very droll. You think readers can't spot comments made by ringers impersonating Swindon Town fans?
Shame on you if you can't taise a cogent point either way.
Dumbar$e
I Too, Swindon says...
5:44pm Thu 23 Oct 08
True to their word?.... Gosh, very novel
Labour’s transport spokesman Coun Derique Montaut clearly had not expected the cabinet to keep to their boast and began his speech to the room by congratulating them on backtracking from their original position – leading to much head scratching from cabinet members
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha , I wish I'd been there. I'd have split my sides with laughter.
StFc, Swindon says...
10:03am Fri 24 Oct 08
The Chrominator wrote:What's your problem? Boyfriend dumped you??
StFc wrote: Brilliant news!! i can speed every where & get where i want to go so much quicker.Yes, very droll. You think readers can't spot comments made by ringers impersonating Swindon Town fans? Shame on you if you can't taise a cogent point either way. Dumbar$e
I suggest you get a life you sad little loser.
Your sayYour Swindon
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thutch, Highworth says...
9:31am Thu 23 Oct 08