New speed cameras for Witherley Road
New traffic calming measures for Witherley Road are on their way following a decision by Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet to support average speed cameras along the road.
The pilot scheme, the first of its kind in Warwickshire, will see the use of the average speed cameras.
A series of works in which cameras installed at both ends of the road will record the average speed of vehicles travelling along Witherley Road will enforce the road’s 30mph speed limit. The speed bumps currently in place will be removed.
Cllr Carol Fox, the county councillor for the division, says she is delighted with the result which follows more than a year of work with the authority and the local community. The decision by Cabinet came following months of consultation in which local businesses, residents and the local school addressed their concerns with the current system.
Cllr Fox, who is also a member of the North Warwickshire Area Committee, delegated some of her councillor allocation towards the consultation as well as to the cost of installing the traffic cameras. Cabinet’s decision means that the remainder of the money has been agreed, enabling work to begin on the scheme.
She said: “The county council listened and has responded very positively to the concerns of the business community, the local residents and Queen Elizabeth School.
“The proposals for Witherley Road agreed at area committee were presented to cabinet, which approved the recommendation, that average speed cameras should be installed on Witherley Road, hopefully before the end of the year.”
Previously, the speed bumps in the road had caused concern among residents, the school and local businesses. The Atherstone Chamber of Trade and Commerce submitted a petition to the county council calling for an alternative means of traffic calming.
The new scheme will see the installation of two cameras at the ends of the road which will record a vehicle’s speed upon entering and leaving the school zone.
Vehicles averaging over 30mph will be penalised and face sanctions of fines, points or the possibility of attending a Speed Awareness Workshop, if certain criteria are met.