Safe Speed Forums

Blackpool speed camera budget cut
By Shelagh Parkinson 30 July 2010

BLACKPOOL'S road safety budget has been cut by more than a quarter prompting renewed calls for speed cameras across the resort to be axed.
But the council's head of road safety said there was "no intention" of switching off the devices.

Since the introduction of speed cameras in 2002, the number of road casualties in Blackpool has dropped from 867 to 523 last year. Last year two people were killed on the town's roads, compared to 10 in 2002.

The Government has cut £38m nationally out of the £95m that had been due to go to local authorities this year for road safety.
In some parts of the country they are now considering removing their speed cameras.
Funds for road safety in Blackpool have been cut by £118,000 this financial year. The council had hoped for £441,499.

Carol Bracegirdle, head of road safety, said: "We have no intention of switching our speed cameras off as we see them as a vital part of road safety in Blackpool.
"Since their introduction there has been a significant reduction in the number of casualties.
"We do need to review how we spend the money we receive and we will be looking at the contribution we make to all our road safety partnerships."