Average speed camera delays leave PCC frustrated

Mark Pritchard (left) and John Campion (right) called for the cameras to be installed without delay

A Police and Crime Commissioner has been left "frustrated" average speed cameras have still not been installed on an A-road "after three years of delay".

John Campion, PCC for West Mercia, said he had allocated £400,000 for the cameras on the A41 in 2022, but claimed Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin Council decided they were not necessary.

Mark Pritchard, the MP for the Wrekin, also expressed his annoyance over the delays and said the authorities were "reckless".

Responding to the Conservative politicians, Labour-run Telford and Wrekin Council disputed when the money was made available and also said no decision had yet been made on how it should be used.

"It is unfortunate that the PCC has taken this decision without speaking with the council," the authority said.

It confirmed it was also considering "further analysis in key locations".

"The council has not rejected plans for the use of average speed cameras on the A41, in fact we would welcome the installation," it said in a statement.

Campion said he had put aside the money after a review was carried out by West Mercia Police.

He said the A41 was identified as suitable for the cameras, because "the road was found in recent years to have experienced a high rate of fatal incidents compared to the national average".

Complaining about the time it had taken to install them, he said: "I cannot help but wonder how many crashes could have been prevented if action had been taken sooner."

Pritchard said he had secured funding for the cameras "almost two years ago".

"[This was] with support from John Campion, the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, and I am hugely annoyed both councils have now effectively vetoed the average speed cameras," he explained.

They should be installed "without further delay", he added.

'We believe in collaboration'

In its response, Telford and Wrekin Council said that in January 2024 the PCC had actually promised £600,000 initially, but it was reduced earlier this year to £400,000.

The PCC's office said the figure had always been £400,000 for average speed cameras in Shropshire and Herefordshire and the remainder of the money, allocated in 2022, had been for enforcement vans and the road safety team.

It said it had worked with Shropshire Council to study accidents and speed along a 30-mile (48km) section of the A41 and was due to meet the PCC to discuss the findings.

The report had recommended further analysis, it said, with possible justification for also using a mobile speed camera.

It said the authority would welcome any investment by the PCC and to work with him and added: "We believe collaboration is vital to delivering meaningful improvements that improve road safety for all road users."

Shropshire Council has been approached for comment.