Two-way speed camera targets slam 'money making exercise'

Motorists who fell foul say there should be better signage

A controversial new high-tech two-way camera in Bideford has sparked angry drivers to call for better signage. The camera in Clovelly Road has been in force since early September, and has been erected by Devon County Council (DCC) due to Affinity Devon junction after it was identified as a collision hotspot.

By targeting speeding, it is hoped the number of incidents will reduce in the area. DCC insists there is adequate speed limit signage along the stretch of road, but has confirmed it will be erecting more speed camera warning notices.

Among those calling for better signage is Linda Bowers, of Bideford, after her husband was recently issued a speeding ticket.

She said: "It doesn't even look like your usual speed camera. The only time we became aware of it or that the road was 30mph was when my husband received a letter of intention to prosecute on September 16 after being caught by the new camera doing 37mph on September 12. Two days later he then received a letter issuing an automatic £100 fine and the option of three points on his license or going a speed reduction course.

"He will do the latter. It is the first time he would have had points on his license in over 20 years or more. He is 79 and it's the second speeding ticket he has ever had.

"He has been caught by the camera on Clovelly Road along with countless others. It's fair enough they have a speed camera but there are no signs on the road to say there is a camera or that the speed limit is 30 miles per hour. It just seems to be a money making exercise.

"Lots of people I have spoken to have also had tickets or know someone this has happened to them."

DCC has confirmed there is no legal requirement for warning signs of speed cameras.

A DCC spokesperson said: “The new camera on Clovelly Road in Bideford has been put in place by Devon County Council with Devon & Cornwall Police through the Devon & Cornwall Vision Zero South West road safety partnership. The camera is to improve safety on this section of Clovelly Road near the Affinity Devon shopping outlet and Caddsdown Industrial Park which has been identified as a site where collisions occur too frequently.

"Over the last five years this route has seen 13 road traffic collisions, leading to 22 people being injured, and six of those seriously injured. We want people to reduce their speed on this road and Devon County Council does not financially benefit from any offences, as the fines are paid to central government.

"There is no legislation that says cameras need to be signed. However, there is already a camera sign and 30pmh sign on Clovelly Road as you approach the shopping outlet. The 30mph zone is clear and the camera itself is also fairly prominent, but we're planning to add repeater signs as soon as we can."