Man installs fake speed camera to deter drivers

Officials say the fake camera in London Road, Sleaford, will be taken down

A fed-up resident has installed a fake speed camera, complete with signage, in his street.

Ash, who only wanted to give his first name, said he was driven to it after seeing cars travelling at 70mph (113kmh) or more on the road, which has a 30mph (48kmh) speed limit.

He said: “When you are pushed into a corner and no-one is doing anything, something has to be done."

Officials at the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership said the item, fixed to a lamp-post in London Road, Sleaford, would be taken down as it is “fitted without permission”.

Ash says he sees people driving at "motorway speeds" on London Road in Sleaford

Ash said he decided to act after witnessing a young girl struggling to cross the road.

He said: “No-one is doing anything. Until somebody is knocked down, no-one is bothered."

Although Ash does not agree in taking the law into his own hands, he said the fake camera had improved people’s driving.

“Within 20 minutes of the camera going up, people slowed down,” he said.

The installation of the fake camera has been welcomed by some locals

Alison Cann, 60, who lives nearby, said speeding around London Road is “a big issue”. She thinks the camera is a good idea.

“I think it's hilarious," she said. "It reminds [those] people speeding they are breaking the law.

“The traffic is so bad we have started to stand in front of cars to slow them down."

Neil Burton, 65, has lived on London Road for 25 years.

He said people "regularly do 50-60mph", adding it is "frustrating" for those who live nearby.

Mr Burton said he did not agree with breaking the law but thought Ash was "only trying to help".

Simon Outen-Coe, from the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, says the camera has to go

Simon Outen-Coe, spokesman for the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, said he “understands concern” around speeding, but said people “cannot fit equipment to highways infrastructure”.

Mr Outen-Coe has said the partnership will carry out a road survey to determine if London Road is a speeding hotspot.

• BBC Sounds: Fake Sleaford speed camera 'a last resort'

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