Frindsbury Hill - back the campaign to reinstate the camera

Local Lib Dem activist Vanessa Roach has been campaigning with other members of the community to reinstate the speed camera on Frindsbury Hill. Here's what she had to say:

"Frindsbury Hill A228 runs through a residential area and has a high volume of traffic. Although there is a 30mph speed limit in this area, vehicles constantly drive at speeds well in excess of this limit. There is no visible deterrent or policing in place in this high casualty area. According to KMSCP (Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership) Fixed Camera Collision and Speed data, in the last 10 years, there have been 17 recorded injury collisions resulting in 21 casualties. In the last three years (since the fixed camera housing was removed) there have been 7 recorded injury collisions resulting in 9 casualties. Between 1990 and 2011, there have been at least 10 collisions in which people were either killed or seriously injured and at least 78 collisions leading to personal injury. These statistics show that this is an area of high casualty and serious risk of death or injury if vehicles are allowed to speed at will without any policing or other deterrent.

"According to information obtained from KMSCP, the fixed speed camera housing at Frindsbury Hill was removed in December 2012 due to "failing structural integrity following routine inspection". No date has been confirmed for reinstatement. Information obtained from KMSCP stated that, "in the absence of the fixed camera periodic attendance by a mobile speed camera vehicle has been requested to KMCP." However, according to the latest information on the KMSCP website, Frindsbury Hill is not listed as a safety camera van site and since the removal of the head of the fixed camera in December 2012 only "…two 'presence' checks were conducted at this location, one on 29th October 2013 at 09:00am, outside No 201 Frindsbury Hill and again on 31st December 2013 at 11:30am, outside No 229 Frindsbury Hill, just up from the Sans Pareil Public House - both checks lasted for a period of one hour." There have been four complaints or enquiries from residents in relation to vehicle speeds on this stretch of the road.

We are therefore petitioning the KMSCP to reinstate the fixed camera in the direction of flow of traffic to the Sans Pareil roundabout, and to introduce other traffic calming measures, such as a flashing speed limit warning sign, in the direction of travel from the Sans Pareil Roundabout to reduce traffic speeds and save residents, pedestrians and motorists from risk of serious injury or death."

The e-petition can be viewed on Medway Council website here.