Kingsway to get a Speed Camera at Last! (Manchester Liberal Democrats Online)

Manchester Liberal Democrats Online <info@manchester-libdems.org.uk>

Kingsway to get a Speed Camera at Last!

October 12, 2006 5:37 PM

Burnage Councillor Iain Donaldson hopes the new speed camera will reduce pedestrian deaths on Kingsway

Liberal Democrats in South Manchester have welcomed the news that after years of pressure from local Lib Dem Councillors, residents groups and local people, a speed camera is to be installed on Kingsway in Burnage.

Kingsway (the A34) is one of the busiest roads in Manchester and there have been many accidents in recent years, many involving pedestrians. Some of these have tragically been fatal.

Calls for a speed camera on the dual carriageway to encourage drivers to slow down have previously fallen on deaf ears. However, an officer of the City Council announced at a Burnage Ward meeting this week that a camera will soon be installed.

Lib Dem Councillor for Burnage Iain Donaldson said:

"Speeding traffic on Kingsway is one of the main concerns of local people in Burnage. The speed of the traffic makes Kingsway a dangerous road for pedestrians."

"Kingsway cuts right through Burnage, meaning hundreds of people have to cross it every day. We have argued for years that a speed camera on Kingsway would make drivers think twice about breaking the speed limit. When this camera is installed it will surely improve safety on Kingsway."

John Leech, the MP for the area and Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson in Parliament, said:

"Road safety in South Manchester is one of my top priorities. It is proven that reducing the speed of traffic reduces the number of accidents and makes any accidents less likely to result in fatalities. That is why I tabled amendments to the Road Safety Bill to reduce speed limits in urban areas in Parliament this week."

"A speed camera on Kingsway will discourage drivers from exceeding the current speed limit. This news is very welcome."

"However, this is long overdue. I worked with John Cameron [Liberal Democrat Councillor for Burnage] on this issue as far back as 1999 and Lib Dem Councillors for Levenshulme, John Commons and Keith Whitmore, have campaigned for greater road safety measures on Kingsway for many years."

"Local Tenants and Residents groups have also campaigned very hard on the issue. All that pressure has paid off at last."

ENDS