Speed cameras in Coventry to be axed

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Every speed camera in Coventry will be switched off by April next year after cuts in funding.


Mobile speed camera at Whitley

It means the only speed cameras monitoring the city’s roads will be from police vans patrolling busy routes.

Currently, just seven of the city’s fixed speed cameras are active. They use outdated wet-film technology and it had been thought that some would be upgraded instead of being turned off.

But that proposal has now been put on hold and all fixed cameras across the West Midlands will now be shut down.

Even if the idea of upgrading Coventry’s cameras is eventually approved only three cameras would be brought back.

The move comes as a result of funding cuts nationally in road safety budgets and grants.

West Midlands Police also plans to withdraw funding for fixed camera sites and focus on mobile camera enforcement.

By next month, it plans to have four speed camera vans working across the force area and some of the fixed camera sites could be converted so those vans could be parked up nearby.

Unless they are removed to allow mobile units to park, the speed camera housings are likely to be kept on the sites to act as a deterrent.

The matter was discussed by the West Midlands Planning and Transportation Sub Committee - made up of members from councils across the West Midlands.

They decided to defer any decision on replacing the cameras until a review has taken place.

Coventry councillor John McNicholas, who sits on the committee, said that it was difficult to predict how the issue will develop because of the uncertainty over funding.

He said: “There will be mobile sites and the housing from the fixed cameras. They could still be converted to hold digital cameras in the future.

“There’s a debate about whether the camera housing could be taken down. I favour keeping them up because there is a deterrent factor. They were there in response to what was once and what may still be a dangerous road.

“West Midlands wide we are reviewing the work of the safety partnership. It will continue but we are having to review how it’s funded.”

As part of the changes traffic light cameras will also be switched off. The report discussed by the committee states that there is no digital replacement for wet film cameras at traffic lights - meaning they could be off for the foreseeable future.

Across the West Midlands speed camera sites are labelled red, amber or green. Red and amber sites are where there is still evidence of speeding and there is still a high risk of personal injury. Green sites are where the risk of injury is considered lower.

In Coventry there are no red sites, three amber ones and four green. There are five mobile sites - one amber and four green.

Across the entire West Midlands there are currently 218 fixed camera sites. If plans to upgrade some are approved 71 will be replaced and switched on again.

A spokesman for Warwickshire County Council confirmed both fixed cameras and mobile cameras will continue to be operated in the county. Last year 40 fixed speed cameras were operated in the county catching more than 25,000 speeding drivers.

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Every speed camera in the region has been switched off.

More than 300 ageing cameras in the West Midlands - some on the city’s busiest routes - were set to be turned off this week due to financial reasons.

Many will remain in place as a deterrent to motorists but mobile digital cameras will now be used in the battle against speeders.

Police chiefs claimed they were a better alternative to the costly fixed sites and added the force was now better placed to quickly respond to concerns over speeding in the region’s neighbourhoods.

It had been reported earlier this week that some would remain switched on until they run out of film - but it is unclear where those cameras are.

The decision to rely on mobile cameras was made by the West Midlands Road Safety Partnership Board - made up of representatives from seven councils, including Coventry.

It led to the decision double the fleet of mobile cameras this month - from just two to four.

We reported last year how the wet-film fixed cameras had required a major upgrade costing over £500,000.

Garry Forsyth, assistant chief constable of West Midlands Police, confirmed this week: “This would cost both police and local authorities a considerable amount of money at a time of a reduction across public sector budgets.

“Mobile cameras are deployed from the back of an enforcement van, allowing them to be moved around the West Midlands as needed and are clearly marked to indicate that they are conducting speed enforcement.

“They are more flexible than fixed cameras, allowing us to conduct speed enforcement on roads where a fixed housing could not be installed and can be deployed to roads where the collision history would not warrant a fixed camera, but where there is concern from the community, local authority or local police about speeding vehicles.”

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Mobile speed traps will snare Coventry drivers as fixed cameras go

POLICE in Coventry say they will crack down on dangerous drivers by using mobile speed traps – after every fixed camera in the city was switched off.

The decision to axe the ageing cameras was made months ago in an effort to save cash.

The devices use traditional wet film and converting them to digital would have cost thousands of pounds.

The last of the region’s 304 traffic cameras were switched off on Monday, although in some places the camera boxes will remain to act as a deterrent.

Four mobile cameras, operated from enforcement vans, will now be used to catch people speeding in the West Midlands.

West Midlands Police assistant chief constable Garry Forsyth said: “The cameras currently in use require a major upgrade in order to remain effective and this would cost both police and local authorities a considerable amount of money at a time of a reduction across public sector budgets.

“However, we are committed to road safety and this is why we are due to increase the number of mobile speed cameras from two to four from April.

“Mobile cameras are deployed from the back of an enforcement van, allowing them to be moved around as needed and are clearly marked to indicate that they are conducting speed enforcement.

“They are more flexible than fixed cameras, allowing us to conduct speed enforcement on roads where a fixed housing could not be installed and can be deployed to roads where the collision history would not warrant a fixed camera, but where there is concern from the community, local authority or local police about speeding vehicles.”

The decision to scrap the cameras was taken by the West Midlands Road Safety Partnership Board, which is made up of councillors, police, the fire service, the court service, the Highways Agency, the health service and the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

It has been suggested that a handful of the cameras may eventually be refurbished when cash is available.

Upgrading all of them to digital would have cost the partnership board nearly £500,000.

The 32 fixed speed cameras used in Warwickshire will continue to be used.

Road safety campaigners have criticised the decision to switch off the cameras.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: “Speed cameras are a very effective way of saving lives and reducing injuries on the road.

“They help save an estimated 100 lives a year in the UK.

“They should continue to be used where casualty statistics show they are needed.”

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Speed cameras in Coventry to stay switched off as Birmingham turn some back on



Speed cameras are to stay switched off in Coventry.

The West Midlands Road Safety Partnership Board turned off all its fixed cameras three years ago to save money.

The devices used traditional wet film and converting them to digital would have cost £500,000, although in some places the camera boxes have remained as a deterrent.

Only mobile cameras have been in operation since, including in London Road and on the A45 and A46 in Coventry.

However, Birmingham City Council has now decided to switch on eight new cameras in the city and Solihull from July 18.

The cameras will detect vehicles through automatic number plate recognition and calculate their average speed over a set period.

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “This is not about making money.

“As with bus lane camera fines, revenue from speed camera fines will be invested back into improving the city’s transport network, helping to ensure that our roads are as safe and efficient as possible for the thousands of motorists who use them on a daily basis.”

Asked if a similar scheme could be introduced in Coventry, a Coventry City Council spokesman said they had no intention to follow suit.

In neighbouring Warwickshire there are currently 32 fixed camera enforcement sites, 10 red light camera sites and 107 mobile camera sites.

The county council said: “There are currently no plans to install further fixed safety cameras in Warwickshire.”

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) supports the use of speed cameras.

“Speed cameras are a very effective way of saving lives and reducing injuries on the road,” it says.

“They help save an estimated 100 lives a year in the UK.

“They should continue to be used where casualty statistics show they are needed.”

Temporary speed cameras were set up through the roadworks at Tollbar Island in Coventry and thousands of motorists were caught out breaking the average 40mph speed limit.

A Freedom of Information Act request by the Telegraph showed that between spring 2014 and the end of 2015 nearly 5,000 drivers had fallen foul of those cameras, which have now been removed.

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A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “This is not about making money.

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Coventry's fixed speed cameras COULD be switched back on if Solihull pilot is a success

Fixed speed cameras could be switched back on in Coventry.

A 21-month pilot scheme featuring eight new digital cameras starts in Solihull and Birmingham on Monday.

Coventry City Council recently said there were no “current plans” to follow suit, but have now confirmed they will “monitor the success” of the pilot scheme.

The now defunct West Midlands Road Safety Partnership Board had turned off all its fixed cameras three years ago to save money.

The devices used wet film and converting them to digital would have cost £500,000, although in some places the camera boxes remained as a deterrent.

However now Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, West Midlands Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner have worked together on the pilot project.

As part of the deal, the local authorities are funding eight new digital cameras, and the police are paying for the enforcement.

A Coventry City Council spokesman said: “There are no current plans to switch back on fixed cameras.

“We currently have mobile camera enforcement provided by the police.

“All moving traffic offences - apart from bus lane contraventions - can only be enforced by the police.”

But he added: “Coventry is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority that is meeting to monitor the success of the Birmingham and Solihull pilot.

“This starts on August 8 and the pilot runs for 21 months.

“All councils will meet regularly to learn from the Birmingham and Solihull pilot.”

In Coventry, only mobile cameras are in operation.

In neighbouring Warwickshire there are currently 32 fixed camera enforcement sites, 10 red light camera sites and 107 mobile camera sites.

The county council said: “There are currently no plans to install further fixed safety cameras in Warwickshire.”

A spokesman for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner said: “If any local authority in the West Midlands pays for the cameras themselves, we would pay for the enforcement.

“Birmingham and Solihull have been prepared to do so.

“The main cost of enforcement is issuing the letters.

“The commissioner has made road safety a top priority. It’s one of the main things people are keen to see more of in their area.”

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Speed cameras could return to Coventry’s streets after four years



Speed cameras could return to Coventry’s streets after four years .

The council’s ruling Labour group say they want average speed cameras to be installed on two of Coventry’s busiest roads.

If approved the cameras would go up on the stretch of London Road between Asda and the Whitley flyover, and on Ansty Road between Clifford Bridge Road and Dane Road.

In 2015 the pedestrian crossing opposite Asda was named the most dangerous in Britain.

Eighteen pedestrians were injured by vehicles while trying to cross the road between 2005 and 2013, including six who were injured seriously and one who was killed.

That was the joint highest number of injuries for any pedestrian crossing in Britain in that period.

In January 2014, a crash between two cars at the junction of Ansty Road and Wyken Croft left one man dead and a number of houses damaged.

And in December 2016 a teenager was hit by a taxi at the crossroads with Hipsell Highway and Sewall Highway and later died in hospital.

Cllr Richard Brown, Labour member for Cheylesmore, Whitley and Stonehouse Estate, said the proposal was discussed at a meeting of the Labour group on Monday night, but has yet to be formally approved by the council itself.

“The way it is going to work is there will be a speed camera at the top of the stretch of the road and at the bottom,” he told the Telegraph.

“Both cameras will monitor the speed of the car through ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) and if they’re going too fast, the relevant action will be taken.

“A camera will be installed at one end of the London Road stretch by Allard Way, and another at the other end by the A46/A444.

“On Ansty Road, we will look to have one by Dane Road and the other at the Clifford Bridge end.

“We have the evidence that this has worked elsewhere.

“On the A77 in Ayreshire, from 2005-2015, there was a 77 per cent reduction in fatalities and a 74 per cent reduction in those seriously injured.

“I don’t think this will be the full answer but it will be part of a series to try and keep people safe.

“It will require £65,000 capital investment but that is nothing to pay compared to what families go through when their loved one is killed in a collision because someone is going too fast.”

All the city’s fixed speed cameras were switched off in 2013 by the now defunct West Midlands Road Safety Partnership Board to save money, although the empty camera boxes still remain, including near the Ferodo bridge in London Road.

However West Midlands Police do operate a mobile speed camera van in the city, and there were temporary average speed cameras along the A45 during the work on Tollbar Island.

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New speed cameras proposed for two of Coventry's most dangerous roads



COVENTRIANS are being urged to have their say on new speed cameras proposed for two of the city’s most dangerous roads.

Average speed enforcement cameras (ASE) could be used to tackle speeding drivers on a stretch of London Road, and another on Ansty Road.

Coventry City Council hopes they will be installed and operational by the end of the year, after first announcing the initiative in March.

The cameras track overall journey speeds along the length of the road by calculating the time travelled between points and not just the speed as a vehicle travels past a camera.

Councillor Jayne Innes, cabinet member for city services, said: “Although accident numbers are dropping in the city, speed is a common factor in those that have happened on these two roads.

“This type of camera helps prevent slowing and speeding up along stretches of road as it calculates the average speed of the vehicle using number plate recognition.

“They have had positive results in reducing accidents in other areas of the country so we hope that residents will support these proposals.”

The speed cameras will be enforced by West Midlands Police and any income generated from fines will cover police administration costs and be re-invested in similar schemes in the city.

The council says people living in nearby Ansty Road and London Road will have the chance to give their view over the next few weeks.

People can have their say on proposals via the online surveys on the council’s website or at http://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/London_Road or http://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/AnstyRoad

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Innes, ... “Although accident numbers are dropping in the city...

Then one must question as to why cameras are necessary? Unless it's to catch the motorist who might just not be local and therefore unaware of these cameras!

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Petition calls for traffic lights on busy Coventry road plagued by speeding drivers



A PETITION to install traffic lights on a Whitley road plagued by speeding drivers has gained more than 200 signatures.

It states motorists are driving more dangerously along London Road since its bus lanes were removed.

It also says cars do not give way to traffic turning into Abbey Road, nor as drivers turn on to London Road, creating safety fears.

But Coventry City Council transport chiefs say newly installed average speed cameras are limiting speeding, and traffic signals will not be introduced.

Conservative Councillor Roger Bailey has supported the petition along with 212 others.

A council officer’s report states: “Analysis of personal injury collisions at this junction revealed that accidents were predominantly related to speeding vehicles.

“To prevent collisions at this junction, we have installed Average Speed Cameras (ASE)London Road is a major route into and out of Coventry, and carry’s a high volume of traffic, the report states.

“There are currently no proposals to signalise London Road’s junction with Abbey Road, however this junction will continue to be monitored as part of our annual collision review.”

Abbey Road and the surrounding road network comprises residential properties and a number of schools.

The report states that cabinet member for city services Patricia Hetherton considered the petition prior to the meeting next Monday (April 8) and in response requested that the issue was dealt with by determination letter.