what is that on Southwark Bridge Road?

[tertius]

Anyone else noticed the large "r" shaped beam that just popped up over SBR? Just before the bridge heading north, but on the southbound side. It has 8 (eight) cameras! Something to do with congestion charging I guess but anyone know?

There also two smaller ones (one each side) appearing further south by the fire station, still on SBR.

Dan

[dougc]

Does it look like this....



but with more cameras?

[tertius]

Not really.

Its a single beam, quite fat, straight up from ground level, then curving to horizontal and out over the road.

Tha cameras are black and slung underneath the beam in pairs, each pair looking in opposite directions.

Dan

[paulie-mafia]

I spotted this too and they've also got them on Tower Bridge. They are definitely number plate scanners of some sort, a bit like those SPECS digital speed cameras. According to my mate, the ones on Tower Bridge are set to track your speed as the limit on the bridge is 20mph. Not sure what the truth is, but better keep an eye on the needle!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

They're SPECS.

[tertius]

terrible photo, but this is what it looks like:





When I get the chance I'll take a better pic.

Dan

edited to make the pic appear

further edited to replace the pic with better ones

>> Edited by tertius on Thursday 29th December 07:40

>> Edited by tertius on Sunday 1st January 15:33

[DickieB]

Aren't they a trial - an extension of the congestion charge?

[mr_p]

Nope, Southwark Bridge has been in the CC zone since it started (the eastern border is on Tower Bridge)

edit: If I were to guess I'd guess SPECS type cameras, the CC cameras already provide ANPR (at least I think they do)

>> Edited by mr_p on Wednesday 28th December 21:22

[tertius]

Its an odd place for SPECS though, as there are 4 sets of lights between the two camera positions, which are less than half a mile apart.

[tertius]

My post now updated with better pics.

Also noticed these things have appeared on Borough High Street as well ....

[*PHIL*]

I had a look on my computer at work and this thing shows up as CCTV, but does not give any more details. I dont think it is speed related, but i guess we will have to wait until someone finds out the hard way.

[joust]

They look like further rollout of the Siemens ANPR

From talking to some of our friends in public sector sales they are the new TfL CC cameras for the extension and are being trialled to make sure they "match up" with the existing system and hence have been put into the current zone.

www.spy.org.uk/spyblog/2005/06/london_congestion_charge_advan.html
www.silicon.com/publicsector/0,3800010403,39153297,00.htm

They are quite clever from a technology POV as they are IP based video cameras.

J

[tertius]

After another look I'm convinced they are to do with the congestion charging, as they have low level boxes nearby with TfL markings on. However, this suggests they aren't the Siemen's ones Joust refers to but something else, as the article says something about not needing these additional units.

[joust]

The boxes I'm told are for the 'backhaul'.

We've been having an 'interesting' time in trying to get 'fibre to the lamppost' from BT, and TfL are moving away from fibre onto copper circuits, so I'm pretty sure these are the proof of concept Siemens ones.

They are absolutly for the CLCC though from what I can find out.

J

[joust]

These are the Siemens ones



Look identical to me.

J

>> Edited by joust on Tuesday 7th February 21:37

[tertius]

OK I've looke at my original pic - very similar I agree, though not identical, it doesn't have all the gubbins at the top, nor the two "square" cameras, upper right, and the SBR ones have additional slatted "shades" underneath.

Sure you are right.

[riverproaudio]

Specs normally have three cameras pointing at you. One for the reg, one for your face and the other (send your answers on a post card to........)
The camera on the first picture I think is to do with the new number plate registering program the government have started. The program tracks your movements and knows (ha ha) when you are acting in a criminal way. The police keep the records for two years.

[joust]

Don't believe everything you hear/read/told

[silvermachine]

Others probably know by now, but the cameras are part of a unique (in UK) SPECS time distance/weight system. I'm the unfortunate owner of a court summons and a rather nice quality hi-res picture of me doing 45 across the bridge. The weight bit obvisously kicks in only if you're an overweight lorry etc.

However, the Taxi Driver Union is currently taking the Corporation of London to court over the cameras. I'm not sure of the details of the case but it has meant that my case has been put on hold for "at least 6 months". I think the case is somethig to do with not issuing fixed penalty letters, but not sure why that would be an issue.

[tertius]

silvermachine said:

Others probably know by now, but the cameras are part of a unique (in UK) SPECS time distance/weight system. I'm the unfortunate owner of a court summons and a rather nice quality hi-res picture of me doing 45 across the bridge. The weight bit obvisously kicks in only if you're an overweight lorry etc. However, the Taxi Driver Union is currently taking the Corporation of London to court over the cameras. I'm not sure of the details of the case but it has meant that my case has been put on hold for "at least 6 months". I think the case is somethig to do with not issuing fixed penalty letters, but not sure why that would be an issue.

That's rather bizarre - those cameras are cropping up all over in central south London, as well as SBR they are also on Borough High Street and outside Tate Modern.