CTindex - Christian Today UK Interactive Catalogue
Society

Council mulls scrapping speed camera funding

Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 16:24 (BST)
Font Scale:A A A

A local council is considering scrapping its funding for speed cameras and spending the money on other traffic-calming measures instead.

Roderick Bluh, leader of Conservative-run Swindon Borough Council in Wiltshire, told BBC radio that a decision would be made in September on how best to spend the 400,000 pound annual cost of the cameras.

"We believe it may be possible that the money could be spent more effectively on permanent road-calming measures and flashing signs rather than . speed cameras," Bluh said.

Local authorities can no longer keep the money raised by speed camera fines and must send it all to the Treasury.

"We don't get the revenue that comes from the fines to invest in road schemes and therefore this may be a way of us investing more money in our road-calming measures locally," Bluh added.

Councillor Peter Greenhalgh, in charge of transport policy, told newspapers that speed cameras were "a blatant tax on the motorist".

Nearly 30,000 drivers in Wiltshire were sent speeding tickets last year, raising 1.76 million pounds in fines, including 250,000 pounds from Swindon, the Daily Mail reported.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership, which operates the cameras, says they have reduced deaths on the roads where they are sited by two thirds over three years.



© Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.
Google Advertisement
Externally generated - Report offensive links here
World Headline
Former Haggard counsellor: We wish he wouldn't do this

Former Haggard counsellor: We wish he wouldn't do this

A member of Ted Haggard’s now-defunct restoration team says he and the others wish the former megachurch pastor would...
Sponsored Features
Bible Educational Services is committed to telling the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. Psalm 78: 4. To download free bible lessons or learn about Postal Bible Schools visit Enrich your love life, marriage and relationships through education and counselling. Train to become a certified marriage and family educator and change lives for good.
Google Advertisement
Externally generated - Report offensive links here