Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The WC Cabinet member for 'Highways and Transport' has spoken ...

Please find below a statement from Cllr. Dick Tonge following the recently circulated Press Statement regarding the Speed watch cameras.

'I write to inform you that, whilst the future of the Safety Camera Unit may be under threat, appropriate steps are being taken to ensure that Community Speed Watch in Wiltshire continues as an important initiative to help reduce speeds and improve the quality of life for our communities.

'We are in discussion with the police authority to ensure that Speed Watch is appropriately resourced and local volunteers receive the necessary support.

'I can also confirm that Speed Indicator Devices will continue to be available for deployment in each community area.'

Cllr. Tonge must know as well as anybody that the Community Speed Watch (CSW) scheme, whilst well intentioned, is a toothless tiger. Speeding motorists get a 'warning' letter from the police or, if they are repeat offenders, a visit from a PC or PCSO - that's it. No fine and no penalty points on their licence. Not much of a threat to speeding drivers.

If a CSW highlights a serious problem then a trained policeman might monitor the site with a radar gun with resultant summons to speeding motorists; but this rarely happens owing to pressure on the police.

Whilst I doubt the effectiveness of static cameras (they have to be visible and locals know where they are and slow down) the mobile vans and motorbikes seem to work - certainly along Hill Street and, hopefully, Trowbridge Road - however, these too are to be axed.

It is interesting to note the 'new-speak' used by Cllr. Tonge

- 'the future of the Safety Camera Unit may be under threat' actually means that WC has withdrawn funding and it will close later this year.

- 'local volunteers receive the necessary support' actually means that the council will shrug-off its responsibility for road safety and pass it to the parishes and un-paid local people.

Whilst we all know that money is tight at County Hall, some of these cuts seem to be self-defeating. Quite how the Conservative group at WC is keeping their councillors 'toeing the line' is a mystery to me. I wonder how long it will be before we see the first of them leaving the party and becoming Independent?