No cameras for Robin Hood roundabout - because council won't make money from fines
Council says it isn't cost effective because police would rake in the cash
WEST Berkshire Council says it won’t put cameras on Newbury’s Robin Hood roundabout to catch people jumping the lights, because it won’t make any money from the fines.
The issue of people jumping the lights was raised at an annual meeting of Newbury Society last week by a concerned member of the public, who said it was becoming dangerous.
However, the council’s traffic services manager, Mark Cole, ruled out the suggestion, saying that the local authority was not prepared to put a camera there because money from the fines would go to the police rather than itself.
Currently, the minimum penalty for jumping a red light is a £100 fine and three penalty points.
“It is simply not cost-effective for us to do that. If police are going to get all the money, then they should finance the cameras themselves,” Mr Cole said.
“Local authorities are cash-strapped at the moment and we simply cannot afford to spend money on cameras when we have not got any money to finance it.”
n Do you think a camera would be a good idea to stop people jumping lights at the Robin Hood roundabout? Email dan.cooper@newburynews.co.uk