Transport Minister Rosie Winterton has written to Anne Snelgrove setting out the facts about speed camera revenue in Swindon. The letter reveals the council receive £475,000 from the central government speed camera pot when they only contribute £400,000.  

This is in contrast to claims from Conservative councillors.  

Cllr Rod Bluh said on the 15th July 2008: “All of the fines that are collected go back through national government. So we don't get the fines to reinvest.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/7506689.stm

Quoted in the Swindon Advertiser on November 20th 2007 Coun Andy James said: "At the moment people in Swindon are spending a lot of money and getting nothing for it.”

Anne Snelgrove said:

“I am pleased the Minister has set the record straight, I know she was concerned as I was that the facts were being misrepresented. Swindon Council have contrived to hide the fact that the Government pays for their contribution to the safety camera partnership. They receive £475,000 from central government to fund road safety, that’s £75,000 more they contribute to run the speed cameras. ”

The Minister also debunks the myth that speed cameras don’t work, as she describes their effect on road safety in Swindon. In her letter to Anne Snelgrove, Rosie Winterton said:

“In the three years before camera enforcement was introduced the average number of persons killed or seriously injured was 19 per year. Since safety camera enforcement began at these sites the average number of persons killed or seriously injured in 5.9 per year, a reduction of 69 per cent. Swindon BC has stated that they spend £400,000 on running their cameras but do not get to keep any fine revenue. Since 1 April 2007 local authorities have received money from the specific road safety grant instead of the “netted off” fine revenue they received under the National Saftey Camera programme that ended on 31 March 2007. Swindon BC received £475,000 for the current financial year…”

Last week RoadPeace joined groups such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to condemn Swindon Council’s proposed speed camera ban because of fears it will increase the number of deaths and injuries on Swindon’s roads.

Read more here: http://www.annesnelgrove.co.uk/speed_camera_ban