Safe Speed Forums

More speed cameras in line for chop as county probe follows city trial
By chris mallett cmallett@derbytelegraph.co.uk

A REVIEW of the future of speed cameras on Derbyshire County Council roads, which could see their numbers reduced, has been launched.

The investigation follows news that Derby City Council is to cover up three cameras in a 12-week trial to see what effect removing them would have on traffic.

Drivers' speeds will still be monitored as the city council assesses the impact of the move.

The cameras to be covered up are in Burton Road, near its junction with Manor Road and Warwick Avenue; near the Pentagon Island in Nottingham Road, Chaddesden; and near the Bridge Inn, in Shelton Lock.

Councillor Andrew Lewer, leader of the county council, said he favoured flashing speed limit signs as an alternative to cameras.

Rob Hill, manager of Derby and Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership, which runs the cameras, said his organisation's budget and operations were being reviewed because of Government cuts.

He said: "We can't afford to keep our safety camera operations as they are."

Mr Hill said he believed the review would see the county's 97 speed camera sites reduced.

But he said that, while there might be fewer cameras, the yellow "speed camera houses" could remain as a deterrent.

He said the main reason for the review was that the partnership had lost 27% of this financial year's £1,352,687 revenue budget, used for ongoing costs such as running speed cameras, and was expecting a further reduction in next year's.

It has also lost all of its £300,965 capital budget for new projects.

He said: "Certainly one of the options would be to reduce camera activities but not take away camera houses."

Mr Lewer said he favoured movable speed signs, which would stay in a single place for just one or two months.

He said this would "increase their impact".

Mr Lewer said: "We don't want cameras in places where they are just being erected to catch people out.

"We want them in places where there is a genuine safety problem.

"But there are certainly communities in the county that feel the presence of speed cameras is beneficial."

Councillor Brian Lucas, shadow cabinet member for highways and transport, said he believed there was money in the budget to maintain the level of cameras currently running.

He said: "In my experience members of the public call us to ask for more cameras. In the interests of Derbyshire I hope we don't cut them."

A report will be put before the county council's cabinet in October.

In the city, speed-activated warning signs will be put up for the first six weeks after the three cameras are covered up, on September 27.