Mayor Dave Hodgson says he’s “slamming the brakes on reckless driving” after securing funding for 15 new average speed cameras that will be installed across Bedford Borough.
These new cameras will join the current 31 locations across the Borough where average speed cameras have already been installed.
Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough, said: “Average speed cameras are hugely useful for stopping reckless drivers from putting pedestrians, other road users and themselves at risk.
“I’ve talked to lots of residents who are concerned about rising road speeds and we want to reassure them that we’re delivering programmes that will lead to meaningful change.”
The cameras will be installed in ‘hot spots’ across Bedford, Kempston, Wilstead, Wixams, Wymington and along the A6.
Cllr Graeme Coombes (Wilhampstead, Conservative) welcomed the news but say the Mayor himself could have sped up a bit with getting them installed.
“Whilst more average speed cameras across the Borough are welcome, as usual, the Mayor is late to the party,” he said.
“Villages, in particular, blighted by speeding traffic, have been crying out for speed cameras for a very long time.”
Funding
Funding for the cameras is coming from the developer of a new housing estate on Cleat Hill in Bedford. Cllr Coombes also seems to suggest that cash could be used for something else.
“The Mayor has consistently pleaded poverty and told parishes that they would have to pay for their own road safety measures if they wanted them,” he added.
“Now, having whacked residents with a huge Council Tax increase earlier this year and an election taking place in 2023, the Mayor is trying to bribe people with their own money and- as usual – shamelessly take the credit.
“Road safety should be about something more important than a quick fix trying to ensure the Mayor’s own re-election prospects.”
But the Mayor says until funding for road safety measures, such as average speed cameras, comes from the fines they generate, they have to find the money somewhere.
The Mayor said, “I’d also call on the government to review their stance on taking the income generated through fines away from local communities.
“Leaving this funding in the hands of councils allows us to invest more into traffic calming measures that help us to keep people safe.”
Bedford Borough Council says they’ve also identified more than 70 sites that meet the criteria for installing average speed cameras.
In a statement to the media, a spokesperson for the council said: “Average speed cameras are an incredibly effective way of discouraging drivers from both speeding and from having accidents on the road.
“In fact, research from the RAC Foundation has suggested that the number of fatal and serious collisions decrease by up to 36% following the introduction of average speed cameras.”
Where they’ll go
The sites where the new average speed cameras will go are:
- A6 south of Bedford
- B530 – Kempston Hardwick
- Ampthill Road, Bedford
- Brickhill Drive, Bedford
- Clapham Road, Bedford
- Harrowden Road, Bedford
- Mile Road, Bedford
- Norse Road, Bedford
- Park Avenue, Bedford
- Wentworth Drive, Bedford
- Bedford Road, Kempston
- Cemetery Road, Kempston (between High Street and Martell Drive)
- Cotton End, Wilstead
- Bedford Road, Wixams
- Rushden Road, Wymington
