Speed camera scheme could expand in Solihull

Speed cameras could return to more roads around Solihull, over two years on from a new generation of device arriving in the borough.

Average speed enforcement (ASE) cameras have been piloted on three stretches of highway, capturing more than 6,000 offences in a little over 18 months.

Now council road chiefs have confirmed early discussions with the police about rolling out the technology to other sites.

Road safety data would be used to decide the locations, although a report says that expanding the scheme would be subject to funding being available.

Cllr Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, agreed the options should be looked at during his decision session last week and argued the current cameras had had the desired effect.

“It’s positive news from the point of view if you look at the speed reductions where we’ve got the average speed cameras,” he said.

The plug had been pulled on speed cameras throughout the West Midlands region in 2013, but three years on it was agreed to trial the new digital devices across Birmingham and Solihull.

In the borough, the cameras were placed along Lode Lane, Bradford Road in Castle Bromwich and Stratford Road in Hockley Heath.

Figures show that 6,015 incidents were referred to the police ticketing office from August 2016 to March 2018.

More than half of the offences – 3,420 -were on the notoriously busy Bradford Road, with 1,540 on Stratford Road and 1,055 on Lode Lane.

Following the meeting, Cllr Cheryl Buxton-Sait (Green, Castle Bromwich) said she welcomed the fact that the arrangements in her ward had reduced speeds.

“I think keeping our roads safe for everyone to use is essential and I’d certainly support anything that achieves that,” she said.

“Any collisions that do occur at those lower speeds give anyone involved a much better chance.”

Although some drivers have been critical, with questions raised last year as to whether the Lode Lane set-up was in the right place.

As part of the scheme, the council has been handed around £114,000 in fees from speed awareness courses.

Almost £62,000 has been spent on the maintenance of the service, with the remainder of the money held in a fund for future work on the cameras.

Paul Tovey, from the council’s highways team, said that conversations about where to go next in Solihull would take place over the coming months.

Aside from looking at options to expand the new technology, the local authority has also agreed to keep the now defunct “wet film” cameras in-situ.

Around £5,000 has been allocated to give the distinctive yellow housings “a bit of TLC”.

“We believe they’re still having some benefits,” said Mr Tovey.

“Just to remind [drivers] about the need to watch their speed.”