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| Town may cut speed camera funding | Town may cut speed camera funding |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A council could stop paying for speed cameras because it says they might not be the best way to make roads safer. | A council could stop paying for speed cameras because it says they might not be the best way to make roads safer. |
| Tory-run Swindon Borough Council currently spends about £400,000 to fund speed cameras in the town. | Tory-run Swindon Borough Council currently spends about £400,000 to fund speed cameras in the town. |
| Its leader, Roderick Bluh, said cash from fines goes to central government and there could be better ways to cut the number of accidents on roads. | Its leader, Roderick Bluh, said cash from fines goes to central government and there could be better ways to cut the number of accidents on roads. |
| It is thought to be the first time a council has challenged the government on the issue of speed camera funding. | It is thought to be the first time a council has challenged the government on the issue of speed camera funding. |
| 'Cash cow' | 'Cash cow' |
| Mr Bluh said the council was reviewing its involvement in the local safety camera partnership scheme. | Mr Bluh said the council was reviewing its involvement in the local safety camera partnership scheme. |
| "All of the fines that are collected go back through national government. So we don't get the fines to reinvest. | "All of the fines that are collected go back through national government. So we don't get the fines to reinvest. |
| "We believe having done a lot of research - or my colleague in particular - that the evidence suggests, the government's own statistics suggest, that speed cameras might not be the most effective way to reduce accidents." | |
| The move follows a shake-up of speed camera funding rules which mean the Treasury keeps proceeds of fines and then makes road-safety grants to councils. | The move follows a shake-up of speed camera funding rules which mean the Treasury keeps proceeds of fines and then makes road-safety grants to councils. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| Fellow Conservative councillor, and head of transport in Swindon, Peter Greenhalgh, said the money spent on cameras could be spent on local safety measures instead. | Fellow Conservative councillor, and head of transport in Swindon, Peter Greenhalgh, said the money spent on cameras could be spent on local safety measures instead. |
| "These are far more effective that speed cameras which, I feel, are a blatant tax on the motorist," he said. | "These are far more effective that speed cameras which, I feel, are a blatant tax on the motorist," he said. |
| "They are being used as a cash cow. I do take exception to the positioning of some mobile speed cameras. They are designed to raise revenue. | "They are being used as a cash cow. I do take exception to the positioning of some mobile speed cameras. They are designed to raise revenue. |
| "I think enough is enough. There are much more important things we as a council should do instead of acting as a law enforcement arm of this government." | "I think enough is enough. There are much more important things we as a council should do instead of acting as a law enforcement arm of this government." |
| Hands off campaign | Hands off campaign |
| Anne Snelgrove, Labour MP for South Swindon and parliamentary private secretary to the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, said the council was "playing politics with lives". | Anne Snelgrove, Labour MP for South Swindon and parliamentary private secretary to the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, said the council was "playing politics with lives". |
| The MP for South Swindon said the removal of the cameras could see road accidents and deaths rise and has launched a Hands off Our Speed Cameras campaign. | The MP for South Swindon said the removal of the cameras could see road accidents and deaths rise and has launched a Hands off Our Speed Cameras campaign. |
| A spokesman for the Department of Transport said the funding decision was a local matter for Swindon, but added: "Safety cameras are there to save lives not to make money. | A spokesman for the Department of Transport said the funding decision was a local matter for Swindon, but added: "Safety cameras are there to save lives not to make money. |
| "There are 1,475 fewer deaths and serious injuries at camera sites each year. | "There are 1,475 fewer deaths and serious injuries at camera sites each year. |
| "The government is clear that the best safety camera is the one that takes no fines at all but succeeds in deterring drivers from speeding." | "The government is clear that the best safety camera is the one that takes no fines at all but succeeds in deterring drivers from speeding." |
| Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet is due to consider the plans to withdraw from the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership by September. | Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet is due to consider the plans to withdraw from the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership by September. |