Plymouth’s new 20mph cameras not turned on for months

Plymouth's latest 20mph zone came into force two months ago - but the speed cameras have only just been switched on, it can be revealed. Plymouth City Council [1] today said the average speed cameras in Stoke [2] weren't activated to give drivers time to get used to the new reduced limit. The council revealed this after PlymouthLive asked why a new speed camera had just gone up in Molesworth Road, inside the zone, almost four months after the other cameras were installed [3]. Initially 10 cameras were included in plans [4] for the new 20mph zone, but only nine were attached to lampposts.

The council today said the final camera had now been put in place but did not give a reason for the delay. The local authority said the cameras will now be made live. The 20mph speed limit, a reduction from 30mph, was introduced on June 12 [5].

The council said, a week before this, that enforcement cameras had been installed and signage and road markings were being put in place, but did not indicate that the cameras would not be operating straight away. It has, however, said it will expand the zone [6] to cover Stonehouse [7] down to Union Street [8] within the next two years. It also said there was also a period of grace when a 20mph zone was enforced by speed cameras on Old Laira Road and Laria Narrows in 2022.

A Plymouth City Council spokesperson today said: "The camera near the Eldad Hill/Molesworth Road/Stuart Road junction was the final one to be installed for the Stoke 20mph zone, phase one of the wider Stoke and Stonehouse 20mph scheme. The new speed limit has been in place since June 12 and anyone exceeding it risks a minimum fine of GBP100 and points on their licence. "Until now, we - the council and Devon and Cornwall Police [9] - have been giving drivers a chance to get used to the new limit, as we did on Old Laira Road.

Observations are that compliance has so far been very good and feedback from local residents has generally been very positive. "The cameras will now be 'going live' and it is hoped the number of drivers detected exceeding the limit will be low." In June, PlymouthLive revealed that there had been just four serious road collisions and no fatal ones [10] inside the new Stoke 20mph speed trap zone in the past five years.

Data from Vision Zero shows that from the start of 2020 until the end of last year there were 18 collisions in the area now covered by average speed cameras with 14 of these collisions classed as "slight". Plymouth City Council has repeatedly stressed that the camera-controlled 20mph zone, which cost the authority GBP125,000, is not a money-making scheme and that it is to ensure the safety of children attending Stuart Road Primary Academy and around a newly installed pedestrian crossing at Mill Bridge. The Old Laira Road/Laira Narrows 20mph zone resulted in 46,867 notices of intended prosecution being issued to motorists for speeding in less than three years.

The opposition Tory group on Plymouth City Council have questioned the need for speed cameras in Stoke and Stonehouse and said they would examine the need for them if they regain power. The scheme was developed following feedback from ward councillors about residents' safety concerns and approved in January following public consultation. This resulted in 166 people in favour of the project and 163 against.

But the petition "stop the 20mph zone in Plymouth" received 2,469 signatures [11] and the scheme has proved controversial with a wave of opposition from around the city. Click here [12] 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

^ Plymouth City Council (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
^ Stoke (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
^ four months after the other cameras were installed (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
^ 10 cameras were included in plans (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
^ introduced on June 12 (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
^ expand the zone (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
^ Stonehouse (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
^ Union Street (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
^ Devon and Cornwall Police (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
^ just four serious road collisions and no fatal ones (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
^ eceived 2,469 signatures (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
^ Click here (chat.whatsapp.com)
^ Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)