Politicians want cameras after driver clocks 151mph

Liz Childs said speeding on the A6 Barton-le-Clay bypass was "horrific"

A councillor and a police and crime commissioner are calling for speed cameras to be installed on a road after police recorded one vehicle travelling at over 150mph (240km/h).

Liz Childs, an Independent Alliance member of Central Bedfordshire Council, representing Barton-le-Clay, said cameras might help deter car meets from taking place on the village's A6 bypass.

John Tizard, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, agreed, saying: "I think Central Bedfordshire Council could install cameras on the A6 as there is a danger to road users and there is a huge nuisance for local residents."

The council has been asked for comment.

Tizard added: "I am confident police are taking this seriously and will act appropriately, and I am sorry it has taken as long as it has done."

Bedfordshire Police caught 182 drivers speeding on Saturday, including one travelling at 151mph (243km/h).

Childs said car meets had been taking place on the A6 bypass for several months.

"It is disturbing residents and just needs stopping," she said.

She said the meets, which were taking place at weekends and bank holidays, were "really horrendous" and that residents had reported being "terrified by the noise".

"The racing activity is highly illegal and clearly the speeding is way beyond illegal - it is dreadful," she said.

"The road needs cameras on it. That is the biggest thing that can happen to help, because then people will be fined."

Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard said speeding "is clearly a problem on the A6 and it is also a problem further north at Wixams"

She said she had "bombarded" police with emails on the matter and had received a positive response.

Supt Alex House, of Bedfordshire Police, said: "After the last car meet-up, we issued a total of 66 Section 59 orders to the owner of every vehicle which attended.

"This means that if they come to the area again and partake in the same activity, we can immediately seize their vehicle."

He said installing speed cameras on the road would be a council decision.