‘I haven’t stopped crying’ as new camera ‘ruins our stunning garden’

A woman in Cornwall has shared her "devastation" over a new speed camera which has been put up right at the end of her garden. Carey Higham has lived at her property which backs on to the A38[1] in Tideford for 16 years. During this time she and her husband Tom have created a "beautiful garden" which Carey said has essentially been ruined by the yellow speed camera which now towers above it.

She described it as something which "looks like it's from outer space". The tower is one of a dozen new speed cameras which have been put up[2] on the A38 between the Carkeel roundabout and Trerulefoot in south east Cornwall[3]. It forms as part of a GBP750,000 scheme by National Highways and the Vision Zero South West Road Safety Partnership aimed at reducing collisions on the notoriously dangerous stretch of road.

Carey said she understood from the proposals that the speed spot camera would be installed approximately 50 metres away from where it is currently, which would have been more hidden from view of their garden.

"If they had put it to the right side, I wouldn't have minded because it would be slightly hidden but because it's a great big yellow thing right in the middle, we're honestly devastated," Carey told CornwallLive[4]. "I reckon they put it in the wrong place. "I haven't stopped crying about it for three days. I've got ill health and my husband has just retired, so we're home 24/7.

We've lived here for 16 years and we have a stunning garden and there's just a yellow pole right at the end of it." Carey said she does not take issue with the speed cameras being put up but rather that one has been installed at the end of her property. She said both she and Tom have been very supportive of the road safety scheme, which has also seen the speed limits in Tideford and Landrake drop from 40mph to 30mph[5], and they have been to many meetings, consultations and she has even done leafletting around the local area.

"It's not that it's been put up that we have a problem with, it's because it's right in the middle and because it's a beautiful garden, it just sticks out like a sore thumb," Carey said. "It looks like it's something from outer space. I was so shocked when I saw they had put it up there. We can see it from our living room through the French doors."

A National Highways spokesperson confirmed that the speed camera has been installed as per the original drawings on the plans and is correctly located. However, after CornwallLive raised Carey's concerns with the highways agency, it said the camera at Tideford will be placed on a shorter pole. The spokesperson said: "We have worked closely with the local community and our road safety partners to introduce this lower speed limit and enforcement cameras which will mean safer journeys for road users and people living near the A38.

"With this road having a daily average of 23,600 journeys, the speed changes will help to reduce the number of people harmed along this busy stretch. The cameras are an important part of ensuring safety and while there were limited options for where they could be located we have listened to concerns and will be replacing the pole in Tideford Village with a shorter one which is less obtrusive." Want the latest Cornwall breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join CornwallLive on WhatsApp[6] and we'll send breaking news and top stories directly to your phone.

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References

1. ^ A38 (www.cornwalllive.com)
2. ^ a dozen new speed cameras which have been put up (www.cornwalllive.com)
3. ^ Cornwall (www.cornwalllive.com)
4. ^ CornwallLive (www.cornwalllive.com)
5. ^ speed limits in Tideford and Landrake drop from 40mph to 30mph (www.cornwalllive.com)
6. ^ Click here to join CornwallLive on WhatsApp (chat.whatsapp.com)
7. ^ Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)