Average speed camera roll-out to be halted...
The Tories are set to pledge an end to Labour's hated speed camera regime, by axing funding for new schemes and halting the spread of average speed checks if they win the next election
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers is expected to make an announcement at the Tory conference today, but she has already been widely quoted in the media on the subject.
The Yorkshire Post picked up the story first last night, when it reported that in her speech today, Ms Villiers will say: "Labour's army of speed cameras is not the best way to make our roads safer. We will switch to alternative, better, ways to improve road safety.
"Labour's dependence on fixed speed cameras has blinded them to the effectiveness of the alternatives. It is time to say enough is enough on fixed speed cameras - we have reached the high water mark. A Conservative government would not fund any new speed cameras."
...according to MP Theresa Villiers
"Under Labour getting around has become a daily grind," Ms Villiers goes on to say. "If it is not endless traffic caused by road works where no one is working, it is the rogue clampers who use extortion and intimidation to extract huge fines. Police will still be responsible for enforcing and issuing tickets."
Under the Tory policy announcement expected today, new guidelines will be issued making councils responsible for locating and running cameras and scrapping the Safety Camera Partnership quangos that currently manage them.
Local councils will also be have to reveal to voters how much revenue is extracted in fines from every camera site, and no new ones will be allowed unless the council can demonstrate alternative safety policies will not be effective.
An extensive roll-out of average speed cameras planned under Labour will be scrapped, although they will still be allowed in motorway roadworks and at other sites where no alternative is suitable.
According to the Daily Mail, the government spends £97m on funding road safety. Under the Tory proposals, the money will be redirected away from cameras to improved road design and vehicle activated speed warning signs, the paper says.