Speed camera latest as 20mph signs go up in Plymouth streets

Signs have gone up in Plymouth's new 20mph zone but speed cameras won't be switched on just yet. The signage has been placed on lampposts, and painted on carriageways, throughout the part of Stoke[1] where speeds are set to be reduced from 30mph and enforced by average speed cameras. Plymouth City Council[2] today said that the scheme, which was supposed to be in force in April, is running late and the authority is now targeting late May or early June.

The nine cameras were installed in March. Construction of a crossing and footway on Eldad Hill began in January and was expected to take about 10 to 12 weeks. But drainage work associated with this has slowed the project.

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The crossing over Mill Bridge will be a combined parallel (zebra) crossing for pedestrians and cyclists. It will not be controlled by traffic signals A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: "Work to construct the crossing on Mill Bridge is running a little behind due to unforeseen repairs that were needed to the drainage system but we expect to implement the new speed limit in this first zone in late May or early June.

"Enforcement cameras have been installed and we are in the process of putting up 20mph signage and painting road markings, ready for the change. We will announce the date for the speed limit change as soon as it is confirmed."

The new speed limit will cover more than 20 streets. The council wants to extend it to encompass an even larger area, in Stonehouse[3], in the next two years.

So far, two cameras have been installed in Stuart Road, one near the railway arch and another at the junction with De La Hay Avenue, and there are three on Wilton Street, one near the Stuart Road junction, one near the traffic lights and another at the junction with Fellowes Place. There is a camera in Molesworth Road, near Stoke Damerel Park, but although a map showed a tenth camera[4] near the traffic lights it has not yet been installed. There are, however, cameras on Eldad Hill, Valletort Road and Wingfield Way.

Plymouth City Council said it is paying ?125,000 for the cameras but they will be operated by the police. The 20mph zone is being set up around a new Mill Bridge pedestrian and cycle crossing, currently under construction, although the council is now stressing that the zone is also to provide safety for children going to and from Stuart Road Primary Academy.

Stoke Damerel Community College is just outside the zone, as is Devonport[5] High School for Boys. City College Plymouth and Stoke Damerel Primary Academy are outside the zone too.

The scheme has proved controversial with a wave of opposition from around the city. A consultation carried out last year resulted in 166 people in favour of the project and 163 against. But the petition "stop the 20mph zone in Plymouth"[6] received 2,469 signatures.

The council has denied that the zone is a money-making scheme, although it has faced criticism that it is a "hunting ground"[7] for motorists. The council stressed it is a safety scheme and that residents in the area had reported excessive speeds, accidents and near misses, particularly for children and their families travelling to and from school. Last month, Tory councillors raised concerns that speed cameras have been "hidden".[8] The Conservative group highlighted the camera close to the Stuart Road railway bridge and asked why the cameras had been fixed to lampposts and not on brightly painted yellow poles.

Plymouth City Council stressed the cameras all meet Department for Transport requirements and none are obscured.

HOW THE CAMERAS WORK

The council said speed measurement begins when a vehicle passes a camera, which records the number plate together with a time stamp. When the vehicle exits the road section, the number plate is re-captured by an average speed camera. The two anonymous data records are compared and an average speed calculated to give evidence of speeding.

The council said vehicles passing the cameras which have not exceeded the average speed limit will have their number plate data and vehicle images automatically deleted. The authority stressed the average speed cameras comply with data protection regulations by saving number plates only for speeding vehicles. In such cases, the system can capture rear and front images to uniquely identify the driver when required.

The data is transmitted only to the police. The council was unable to say whether a driver could end up with more than one speeding ticket from a single journey through the zone and said questions regarding enforcement need to be addressed by the police, who operate the cameras. But the authority advised anyone driving within the zone to stick to the speed limit throughout the whole zone to avoid the risk of being issued with a fine.

The latest information on the Stoke 20mph zone is available at www.plymouth.gov.uk/stoke-20mph-speed-limit. Click here[9] to join PlymouthLive on WhatsApp and we'll send breaking news and top stories directly to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.

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References

1. ^ Stoke (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
2. ^ Plymouth City Council (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
3. ^ Stonehouse (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
4. ^ a map showed a tenth camera (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
5. ^ Devonport (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
6. ^ the petition "stop the 20mph zone in Plymouth" (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
7. ^ criticism that it is a "hunting ground" (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
8. ^ concerns that speed cameras have been "hidden". (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
9. ^ Click here (chat.whatsapp.com)
10. ^ Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)