Town axes all its speed cameras

SWINDON became the first town in the UK today to abolish speed cameras after admitting they are a “blatant tax on motorists.”

CONTROVERSIAL Swindon is the first town to axe the cameras CONTROVERSIAL: Swindon is the first town to axe the cameras

To the delight of the borough's motorists, the nine-strong cabinet of the Tory-run council yesterday voted unanimously to scrap the fixed-point speed cameras and end the flow of fines - which are paid directly to the Government.

The decision to axe speed-traps came after the council revealed the Treasury were receiving the cash from fines while the council were forced to pay £32,000 for the cameras' upkeep.

The cameras have been branded a blatant tax on motorists The cameras have been branded 'a blatant tax on motorists'

Currently there are eight fixed-point cameras in Swindon - six speed cameras and two red light cameras - which will be removed in six months time when the council's deal with Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership ends.

Mr Greenhalgh, councillor for highways in Swindon, who in the past branded the cameras "a blatant tax on motorists," said in 2007-2008 70 people had been killed on the streets of Swindon, proving that the cameras were not working to curb motorists’ excessive speed.

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But just because there will be no more speed traps in the town does not mean motorists cannot be caught, he added.

The councillor confirmed that police will still be out and about with hand-held speed-measuring devices while the council is considering alternative speed-reducing measures, including education and training for motorists and reduced speed limits in problem areas.

“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," he said.

The news will be welcomed by many motorists, including Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who earlier this year awarded Mr Greenhalgh the Top Gear Trophy of Excellence for “Services to common sense in the face of blatant Government stupidity”.

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”.

 

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