Labour insists Plymouth's new 20mph scheme is not a 'hunting ground'
Council chiefs have yet to decide on how many speed cameras will be placed in Plymouth’s new 20mph zone - but have denied it is a money-making “hunting ground”. The Labour-led authority hit back at criticism from the Tory opposition and insisted the £450,000 scheme was being implemented to make roads safer.
Labour even pointed out that the controversial 20mph zone in Old Laira Road, which resulted in nearly 12,000 fines being issued in a year, was brought in under a Conservative administration. It said the number and location of the cameras in the new Stoke zone has yet to be determined but stressed they would be average speed cameras and not static ones, unlike in Laira where both are used.
The Tories are, however, unhappy that details of the type and location of cameras had not been revealed as part of the consultation on the scheme. It is planned to install cameras to monitor a new 20mph zone covering about 20 streets and service lanes including parts of Molesworth Road, Wilton Street and Stuart Road, with the scheme going live on April 1.
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Cllr Mark Coker, Labour’s cabinet member for transport, said: “We are still discussing the number and quantity of the speed cameras with our contractors. However, I can confirm that they will be average speed cameras as they are the most effective at deterring speeding traffic”
He added: “Despite what is being politically pedalled by the Conservatives, this is not a ‘hunting ground’ for fines. This scheme will not make a penny of profit for the council.
“Once police operating costs are met, surplus money from fines goes to the Vision Zero Road Safety Partnership and by law the funding has to go into road safety measures. Saying anything contrary to this is nonsense.”
He hit back at criticism from Tory Cllr Lee Finn who branded the Stoke scheme a “hunting ground” designed to catch as many unwary motorists as possible. Cllr Coker stressed: “I would like to remind everyone that Plymouth has a number of 20mph schemes across the city – all of which have been put in place because of one reason: safety.
“Whilst Cllr Finn has decided to oppose this scheme on behalf of his party – let me remind him that it was his administration that put in the similar Laira Road scheme. A successful scheme that we supported because at its heart is the need to keep people safe. Something that he has clearly forgotten.”
Cllr Coker pointed out that the Stoke 20mph area would surround Stuart Road Primary Academy and said: “So let’s put safety ahead of politics. Cllr Finn himself acknowledged the danger that cars pose to children and young people on their way to school in a council meeting in November last year.
“He encouraged the council to take action. We have. We want to slow down traffic in an area around a school, so that children and their families are able to travel safely and not in fear of their lives.”
Cllr Finn has requested for the delegated decision to be called-in for scrutiny by councillors. But the request was turned down by the council, saying it was not wrong in fact or law.
Cllr Finn said a consultation carried out last year, which resulted in 166 people in favour of the project and 163 against, was flawed because the position and number of cameras was not decided. He said: “How can you have a consultation and put it to the public when the policy is incomplete?
“I was going to bring this up on call-in. This is where democracy fails - they did not put a completed plan to the public. You can’t have a consultation based on ifs and maybes. The consultation was an absolute sham.”
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