A widow whose husband was killed by a speeding car near Burnham-On-Sea has welcomed the news that six speed cameras across Somerset are to be switched backed on again.
Among the cameras which are set to be switched back one on the A38 in Rooksbridge where Pat Ireland’s husband was killed in 2008.
Somerset County Council has this week agreed to sell them to Avon & Somerset Police for £1 each.
Pat Ireland, pictured, whose husband Gordon was killed while crossing the A38 in a collision with a car in Rooksbridge in 2008, has 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. “It’s a sensible decision – the cameras should never have been turned off.”
The cameras were previously switched off across Somerset in 2011 following discussions with the Safety Camera Partnership.
Last June, Chief Constable Nick Gargan called for the speed cameras to be turned back on and he opened up conversations with the council to consider if fixed safety cameras could be re-introduced.
He and the council have now agreed that the police will take responsibility and ownership of the cameras and operate them on the highway network “on the proviso that no costs whatsoever are incurred by the county council.”
Cabinet member for Highways Cllr Harvey Siggs explained: “We will continue to work closely with the police to improve highway safety and reduce traffic speeds at known road casualty sites.”
“The police have agreed to take full responsibility for the cost and maintenance of the fixed safety cameras and will enforce all speeding offences, and we support them in their decision.”
A police spokeswoman added that the Rooksbridge speed camera is one of six being purchased and added that the camera will fully assessed before it is switched on in the “near future.”
Supt Ian Smith said there is currently more than £2m worth of camera infrastructure lying dormant on the roadsides in the police force’s 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,” he said.
“We are pleased that plans to reinstate static speed cameras in Somerset have moved a step closer. We are keen to reinstate fixed cameras in Somerset as soon as possible and we will promote the activation when it happens.”
