Anne Main: Government's speed camera millions should be spent on our roads
6th August 2008
Anne Main has today highlighted Government figures which show a huge rise in fines from speed cameras in Hertfordshire in the last ten years.
Anne Main, MP for St Albans, has today highlighted Government figures which show a huge rise in fines from speed cameras in Hertfordshire in the last ten years.
The figures show that revenues from speed cameras in Hertfordshire are nearly seven times what they were in 1997, with £4,908,300 being taken in fines in 2006, compared to just £704,160 in 1997.
Anne said:
"These figures show a huge rise in the amount of money being taken from motorists over the past ten years, and the Government must account for what it is doing with all this extra cash. After all, it was meant to deliver safer, better roads and now rules are changed and local Councils don't get a penny of this money.
In Hertfordshire, we have long argued that we are under-funded to maintain our roads to a decent standard and so we have built up a backlog of repairs that we would all like to see fixed. So, it is particularly annoying that these fines are kept by Central Government and, yet our local Councils face an uphill struggle trying to repair pot-holes and resurface roads with meagre funds. This particular money, which comes directly from motorists, should be used to maintain our roads and ensure the safety of all road users. After all, it is in addition to funding raised through the road tax.
I was pleased to hear in a recent meeting with the Leader of St Albans District Council, Robert Donald, that the District and County councils will now be joining forces to lobby the Government for a fairer share of funding for roads. Too often, this subject is made into a political football when the reality is that local authorities can't mend pot-holes and do adequate maintenance if they are not getting a fair share of funding, and so this two-pronged approach by both Councils is a sensible way forward.
This is a key issue and until Central Government gives Hertfordshire a realistic grant to maintain its highways they will continue to be sub-standard.""
