'We believe that speed cameras might not be the most effective way to reduce accidents' says councillor
A SPEED savvy council has said it is considering whether or not to stop paying for speed cameras because they are not the best way to make roads safer.
The conservative Swindon Borough Council Leader Roderick Bluh said that the council spends around £400,000 a year to fund cameras in the town, but with the money now going to central government rather than being kept by the individual councils there may now be better ways to cut accidents on Swindon’s road.
This is the first time a council has challenged the government on the issue of speed camera funding.
Bluh told the BBC: "All of the fines that are collected go back through national government. So we don't get the fines to reinvest.
"We believe having done a lot of research - or my colleague in particular - that the evidence suggests, the government's own statistics suggest, that speed cameras might not be the most effective way to reduce accidents."
Head of transport in Swindon, Peter Greenhalgh, added: "These are far more effective that speed cameras which, I feel, are a blatant tax on the motorist.
"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.
"I think enough is enough. There are much more important things we as a council should do instead of acting as a law enforcement arm of this government."
