No more speed cameras? Council challenges government over road safety
- added July 15, 2008
- 1 response
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- JanaPokana
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Speed cameras could be scrapped by a Conservative-ruled local authority.
Swindon Borough Council is reviewing its involvement with the local safety camera partnership scheme and considering whether to spend its £400,000-a-year contribution elsewhere.
Leader, Councillor Roderick Bluh, said: "We are not going to compromise safety, but we are taking the opportunity to review how we utilise the money. A huge amount of money is being raised by speed cameras and we are seeking better ways of ensuring road safety without penalising motorists."
It is believed to be the first time that a council in the UK has challenged the Government over the issue. The Conservative-run council is considering withdrawing from the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership after a shake-up of speed camera funding rules which mean the Treasury now keeps the proceeds of fines. The Government then makes road-safety grants to councils.
Tory councillor Peter Greenhalgh, head of highways, transport and strategic planning for Swindon, reportedly said the money should be spent on a range of local safety measures. "These are far more effective that speed cameras which, I feel, are a blatant tax on the motorist," he said. "They are being used as a cash cow. I do take exception to the positioning of some mobile speed cameras. They are designed to raise revenue."
(Yahoo! News UK)
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Do you agree that it is time to get rid of speed cameras and introduce other means of ensuring road safety? Or do you think speed cameras work and should stay?
Swindon Borough Council is reviewing its involvement with the local safety camera partnership scheme and considering whether to spend its £400,000-a-year contribution elsewhere.
Leader, Councillor Roderick Bluh, said: "We are not going to compromise safety, but we are taking the opportunity to review how we utilise the money. A huge amount of money is being raised by speed cameras and we are seeking better ways of ensuring road safety without penalising motorists."
It is believed to be the first time that a council in the UK has challenged the Government over the issue. The Conservative-run council is considering withdrawing from the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership after a shake-up of speed camera funding rules which mean the Treasury now keeps the proceeds of fines. The Government then makes road-safety grants to councils.
Tory councillor Peter Greenhalgh, head of highways, transport and strategic planning for Swindon, reportedly said the money should be spent on a range of local safety measures. "These are far more effective that speed cameras which, I feel, are a blatant tax on the motorist," he said. "They are being used as a cash cow. I do take exception to the positioning of some mobile speed cameras. They are designed to raise revenue."
(Yahoo! News UK)
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Do you agree that it is time to get rid of speed cameras and introduce other means of ensuring road safety? Or do you think speed cameras work and should stay?
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- JanaPokana
- 2 months ago
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Great news. Maybe they'll concentrate on actual road safety now instead of gouging people for not obeying an arbitrary number that has nothing to do with safe driving.
Get rid of all of them and start working on the real causes of accidents - starting with improving drivers' education.-
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- dandrews1969
- 2 months ago
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