Speed camera spending slashed by £100,000

COUNCIL purseholders have slashed the amount of money spent on speed cameras by £100,000 - deciding to spend the cash on other road safety schemes.North Somerset Council has reduced the amount of money it gives to the West of England Road Safety Partnership from £314,000 to £214,000. The move will mean the number of mobile speed patrols on the district's roads will be reduced, a move which has been slammed by road safety chiefs who say it will lead to an increase in accidents.But North Somerset Council executive member for strategic planning, Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, said: "We only get a certain amount of money and we need to spend it on road safety improvements ."We cannot afford to continue to substitute the safety camera partnership to the extent we do now."The £100,000 will be spent on improving pedestrian crossings and entrances to schools as well as providing speed activated signs at areas where they will be of benefit."We will not be removing any cameras and expect the partnership to continue speed enforcement across the district.