Average speed cameras could come to Macclesfield roads

By Belinda Ryan - Local Democracy Reporter

6th Sep 2022 | Local News

A speed limit sign on Lea Bank Close in Macclesfield. Please note: This image is for illustrative purposes only. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)
A speed limit sign on Lea Bank Close in Macclesfield. Please note: This image is for illustrative purposes only. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Average speed cameras are to be trialled in Cheshire with a view to parish councils possibly funding them in the future to crackdown on speeding drivers.

Three trial sites will be set up across the county in the next few weeks – and in Cheshire East the cameras will be located in Plumley.

Police and crime commissioner John Dwyer said this was in response to the number of complaints he received from parish councils about speeding in their villages.

Speaking at Thursday's meeting of Cheshire East Council's scrutiny committee, Mr Dwyer said: "We're trying out in autumn now three trial sites across the county and one of them's here in Cheshire East, where we're trying out average speed cameras in a parish to see whether in fact that does impact on behaviour of drivers in that area. I believe it will.

They could be introduced to tackle speeding, following a trial elsewhere in Cheshire East. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"So once that's been proven, then we will be going to through Chalc (Cheshire Association of Local Councils), speaking to all parish councils, saying consider this in your area provided that the criteria for the road are met. Then we need to think about how you can actually afford, as a parish council, to install these devices in your area to help road safety."

Cllr Rachel Bailey (Audlem, Con) said some parish councils would not be able to fund such a scheme.

"It sounds great, but we have some very small parish councils and currently these parish councils are being asked, for example by Cheshire East, to pay for highway maintenance, to pay for gulley-emptying – it's called a top up scheme so and some are also being asked to pay for gritting," said Cllr Bailey.

"So at some point these parish councils are going to topple if there isn't closer engagement between yourself and the council with just how much we can expect some of them to do."

The scheme could benefit more rural areas in Macclesfield, cracking down on speeding in Bollington (pictured) or Pott Shirgley. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Mr Dwyer said said parish councils, unlike borough councils and the police commissioner's office, are able to raise their precept by whatever amount they want.

"There's no limit on it," he said, adding: "We know that they've got to be realistic in what they do."

He said some parishes would be too small and may not wish to take part in the average speed camera initiative anyway.

He added he was aware of two parish councils which are trying to do something together where there is adjoining road – with one camera in one parish and the second camera in the other.

No roads in Macclesfield or outside of Plumley have been confirmed as of yet.

Got an event you'd like us to promote in Macclesfield? List it for FREE on our What's On section.

Macclesfield: Have you signed up for our FREE Friday weekly newsletter? It contains each week's top five Macclesfield news stories, and one EXCLUSIVE article?

1400 of you have signed up already. Simply enter your email address on this link.

Free from pop-up ads, or unwanted surveys, Macclesfield Nub News is a quality online newspaper for Macclesfieldand the surrounding area.

You can find us on Facebook and Twitter.

     

New macclesfield Jobs Section Launched!!
Vacancies updated hourly!!
Click here: macclesfield jobs

Share:

Related Articles

Macclesfield in the autumn. Time to start thinking about utility bills? (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)
Advertisement Features

Energy saving specialists supporting Macclesfield businesses to cut their energy bills by up to 50%

Macclesfield College is hosting an open event on Saturday 23 November, running from 10.30am until 1pm (Image - Macclesfield College)
Local News

Macclesfield College to host opening day soon

Sign-Up for our FREE Newsletter

We want to provide macclesfield with more and more clickbait-free local news.
To do that, we need a loyal newsletter following.
Help us survive and sign up to our FREE weekly newsletter.

Already subscribed? Thank you. Just press X or click here.
We won't pass your details on to anyone else.
By clicking the Subscribe button you agree to our Privacy Policy.