"Swindon Borough Council in Wiltshire has decided to make the first public stand against the ‘money-making’ project by threatening to pull out of the Government’s speed camera partnership scheme.
It is believed to be the first time that a council in the UK has publicly accused the Government of installing speed-cameras to make money rather than prevent accidents.
Swindon’s boycott could lead to funding for all cameras in Wiltshire drying up - including controversial mobile traps on the M4 motorway."
Used to live there. Visit regulary and they have actually decomissioned most of the cameras. (Put covers over them)
They still use the mobile ones though. As for revenue gathering, 1 stretch of dual carriage way called Queens Drive. 40 limit. A Sunday morning, 9.30, and the so called “Safety Van” is parked in a layby cos he knows people will be less aware. Why is he not there during the week at rush hour when the kids are trying to cross the road, acting in a “safety” capacity???
Cos the road is so congested you would be lucky to do 25…and why do the taxis speed along this road (60mph+) totally ignoring the limit?? Remember the limit is 40. Cos when the police started nicking them for speeding they refused to collect or drop off in that area and all the night clubs and businesses in town complained.
As for this councillor’s quote that the fines are a “tax” on motorists. Swindon is so strapped for cash they simply cannot afford them without the revenue injection. :unsure: :unsure: So nothing for free and money really does talk
I suspect it’s a ploy to pursuade the govt to hand back some of the scamera takings, they don’t go to the local council scamera partnership anymore, threy go direct to the govt. I guess the council want their cut of the booty.
On the other hand, if they are genuinly saying they’re nothing to do with safety and therefore want to remove them, then great ! First council to admit the truth.
How many speed scameras do you see outside schools ? None where I live, they’re all on straight stretches of dual carriageway.
as I remember it was only a couple of years ago the Swindon safety team were putting vans on the bridges over the M4 to "combat speeding " on the motorway !
