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Police are hunting saboteurs after a Wigan speed camera was vandalised for the second time this year.
The criminal damage to the safety device on Whelley is the fifth such attack in the last eight months.
A transport chief today described the crime as “beyond reckless,” saying that speed is the biggest cause of deaths on Wigan’s roads.
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The Whelley speed camera reinstated earlier this year. Now it has gone again after a second act of criminal damage
New cameras which can catch speeders travelling in both directions were installed at key locations last autumn, but at the beginning of this year, four of them – on Spring Road in Kitt Green, Wallgate in Wigan, Warrington Road at Goose Green and the one on Whelley – had all been sawn down.
In the case of the last of these, the pole fell into the road which was covered with snow and ice at the time, creating a lethal hazard.
A 67-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the Warrington Road attack and later bailed.
Following this latest incident – which was reported to police on June 21, Peter Boulton, Transport for Greater Manchester’s Highways Network Director, said: “We strongly condemn the irresponsible actions of those who vandalise safety cameras, which are used to stop people speeding, reduce collisions and make our roads safer for everyone who uses them.
The Whelley speed camera the first time it was felled in January
“Speeding in particular is a cause in most fatal collisions on our roads, and in Wigan alone 57 people were needlessly killed or serious injured between 2020 and 2022 as a result of speeding.
“This is the second time this specific camera has been vandalised. The camera has been temporarily removed and discussions between TfGM, the police and the local authority around its reinstatement are ongoing. Unfortunately, the cost of replacing or repairing these cameras falls on the taxpayer.
“It is beyond reckless for these people to vandalise these spot speed safety cameras, and I would urge them to consider the potential consequences of there being one less camera on our roads and how they would feel if the next person killed by someone speeding is a friend, relative or loved one.”
Safer Roads GM say the camera has been temporarily removed and they are now in talks with Greater Manchester Police and Wigan Council about its reinstatement.
Anyone with details on the attack are asked to ring police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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Loved ones of a Wigan 50-year-old fighting for his life in hospital after a rush hour crash have thanked the public for their kind wishes.
And they say that the man’s condition remains critical after Friday’s horror collision with a car in Ashton[2] town centre but have praised the medics caring for him.
Police[3] are appealing for witnesses and film footage of the incident involving the pedestrian and a silver Karoq Skoda[4] which mounted the kerb outside the Ashtan Tanning Lounge in Ashton-in-Makerfield and hit him on Friday June 14.
A distressed pensioner was reported to have told witnesses that he passed out at the wheel of his car and careered onto the pavement on Wigan[5] Road.
The Ashtan Tanning Lounge outside which the terrible accident took place
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It later emerged that the victim suffered leg and hip injuries, but, most seriously, a bleed on the brain which prompted intensive care unit doctors to put him into an induced coma.
Now relatives have provided a few further details via local councillor Danny Fletcher.
He wrote on social media: “Update from family of the individual seriously hurt on Friday night in Ashton centre.
“They would like to thank the Ashton community for their concern and best wishes. He is in excellent hands, but still in a critical state.
“Family taking things hour by hour and praying for a swift recovery.”
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “At 5.09pm on Friday June 14, we were called to reports of a serious road traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian in Ashton-in-Makerfield.
“A silver Karoq Skoda travelling eastbound along Wigan Road from the junction of Bryn Road crossed the centre line entering the Westbound carriageway before colliding with a pedestrian.
“The pedestrian, 50-year-old man from Wigan, was struck while standing on a footpath outside of a business.
“Emergency services transported him to hospital with serious injuries, where he remains in critical condition.
“No other vehicles were involved, and no other injuries were reported.
“Our Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this incident to come forward.
“They are also keen to speak to anyone who may have any footage, including CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage from the area in the moments leading up to the collision.”
Anyone with details should contact police on 0161 856 4741 quoting log number 2527 of 14/06/2024.
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The new yellow camera and pole have been erected on Whelley, close to Canon Sharples Primary School.
It was the fourth such attack in just a few weeks, with other devices being dramatically disabled on Wallgate, Warrington Road and Spring Road in Kitt Green.
A new speed camera in place on Whelley, after the previous one was cut down
The cameras had only been in place for a short time when they were targeted, replacing older models at locations across the borough.
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The Orrell attack was caught on a CCTV camera and the Warrington Road incident was witnessed, with an onlooker telling police that two men had been involved and were using an angle grinder.
Subsequently a 67-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and was bailed pending further inquiries.
Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) head of highways Peter Boulton condemned the damage to the cameras at the time and said it would cost £100,000 to replace them.
He said: “We strongly condemn the irresponsible actions of those who have vandalised spot speed safety cameras which have recently been upgraded in Wigan. These cameras are used to stop people speeding, reduce collisions and make our roads safer for everyone that uses them.
“Speeding is a cause in most fatal collisions and in Wigan borough alone 57 people have been needlessly killed or seriously injured between 2020 and 2022 as a result of speeding.
“It is beyond reckless for these people to vandalise these spot speed safety cameras, and I would urge them to consider the potential consequences of there being one less camera on our roads, and how they would feel if the next person killed by someone speeding is a friend, relative or loved one.”
Last autumn it was announced that TfGM had signed a contract with Jenoptik UK to upgrade many cameras across the region, including several sites in Wigan.
The state-of-the-art technology can catch motorists speeding in both directions at the same time, without the need for road markings, and there is no flash either.
Detectives intercepted a lorry containing £300 million worth of drugs in what police have said is the ‘UK’s largest mainland drugs seizure’. The huge drugs bust followed a covert operation by Greater Manchester Police[1] acting on intelligence.
It ende…