A widow whose husband was killed by a speeding car near Burnham-On-Sea has welcomed the news that seven speed cameras across Somerset are being switched back on again from today (Wednesday).
Among the cameras being returned to operation is one on the A38 in Rooksbridge where Pat Ireland’s husband was killed in 2008.
Pat Ireland, whose husband Gordon was killed while crossing the A38 in a collision with a car in Rooksbridge in 2008, welcomed the news.
“We have campaigned for many years to get the speed camera here turned back on – they are much needed and this is excellent news that may help reduce the risk of further accidents,” she told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
Today (Wednesday, February 11th) marks the beginning of a road safety project that will see a total of 29 static cameras become operational again for the first time since 2011 across the Avon and Somerset force area – with seven in Somerset, listed below.
The cameras were previously switched off across Somerset in 2011 when Government funding was withdrawn for the joint local authority and police Safety Camera Partnership.
Speed cameras in Somerset being switched back on:
A38 Bristol Road, Rooksbridge
A38 Bridgwater Road, Cross
A39 Bath Road, near junction B3141 Woolavington Hill, Bawdrip
Fore Street, Othery
A38 Chritchard Parkway, junction A38 East Reach, Taunton
A358, near junction Lipe Lane/Stoke Road, Henlade
B3440 New Bristol Road, near Mendip Green First School, Worle, WSM
Avon and Somerset Police’s Road Safety Superintendent Richard Corrigan said: “Our message is loud and clear – drivers should assume that all roadside fixed cameras are now operational and to drive accordingly. Drivers who choose to exceed the speed limit can expect to be caught and prosecuted if you exceed the legal speed limit.”
The cameras will be switched back on in a phased programme, exact dates yet to be confirmed, over the coming weeks and months. Revenue raised from them will be used to fund their maintenance and enforcement.
Supt Corrigan said: “The ongoing work we have undertaken with our partners to reinstate static speed cameras in the force area is based on national research showing that cameras add value to road safety. 27% of priority issues raised with the police relate to speeding vehicles in our communities. Also, there was camera infrastructure worth more than two million pounds lying dormant on the roadsides in the force area. We believe that the static cameras can be operated in a cost-neutral way and that reactivating them for use alongside our mobile camera vans will help in making our roads safer.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “This is a positive move which will improve the safety of roads across Avon and Somerset. I know from speaking to people how important road safety is to them and many have been pressing to have the cameras in their communities turned back on as soon as possible. I’m pleased that I can now tell them they are back on.”
“Static cameras will complement the work of the mobile speed enforcement vans and motorbikes that already work across Avon and Somerset and together they send a powerful message to drivers that speeding is being taken seriously.”
