Speed camera for busy town road

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A MOBILE speed camera is to begin operating along one of the town's busiest roads after concerns raised by residents about the number of drivers breaking the limit.

West Mercia Safer Roads Partnership has agreed to include Icknield Street Drive in its Community Concern Programme for an initial six months, after which it will be reviewed to see if the scheme has had any impact on slowing drivers down and if further action is needed.

It follows concerns raised by residents about the speed of drivers travelling along the 40mph stretch of road. The Standard reported in August how a Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS), which flashes up a reminder of the speed limit when a vehicle approaches travelling too fast, was activated over 30,000 times in a four week period.

The Safer Roads Partnership has conducted its own research and found about half of all vehicles were travelling above the speed limit and 15 per cent were recorded above 48.1mph.

Anna Higgins, from West Mercia of the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, said: "We are launching a new community concern enforcement site on Icknield Street Drive to address the concerns that have been raised.

"We hope the presence of a speed camera will improve driver compliance with the 40mph speed limit and improve the safety of the road for all those who use it."

The Community Concern programme takes advantage of a change in the law and allows a temporary mobile camera to be used in places where there is a known speeding problem but not necessarily a significant accident or casualty record.

Coun Juliet Brunner, responsible for Arrow Valley East which includes the Matchborough and Winyates area, said: "Speed limits exist for a reason and anyone that exceeds them is putting themselves, passengers, other road users and pedestrians in danger. The message to anyone travelling too fast is a simple one. Slow down and stay safe."

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