For the first time in both Shropshire and the West Mercia Police area, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras are being deployed in three villages in a bid to deter speeding drivers.
This follows an £18,600 grant from the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner. Pontesbury, Minsterley and Great Hanwood parish councils made a successful joint bid for the funding as part of efforts to tackle speeding traffic in their villages. It’s the first such funding award in the West Mercia area.
This money is being match-funded by each parish council and is the result of the many requests received to try and persuade drivers of all vehicles to slow down when passing through these rural villages, which all lie on the A488.
The funding means one ANPR camera will be placed on a Shropshire Council street-lighting column in each village, in locations that will benefit most from a reduction in speed.
The cameras were installed this week [16 and 17 March] on the approach to each village. Technology is being fitted to Shropshire Council lampposts so the locations can be changed without notice, making the systems even more effective.
Each camera uses the latest in ANPR technology. Unlike conventional ‘speed cameras’ ANPR can record a vehicle’s speed, number plate, time, date and photograph it. The software can also record offenders, who could be visited by the police.
Additionally, the cameras can and will also be used to fight rural crime, and build an intelligence picture.
In a joint quote, the chairs of the three parish councils and the local Shropshire Councillors – Geoff Rogers, Duncan Fletcher, Roger Evans and Nick Hignett – said: “Information from local residents and accompanying data show that many drivers exceed the speed limit when passing though the villages. These new cameras are vital to ensure the safety of our residents, and those using our roads.
“ANPR is ground-breaking for our local communities as it actually records a registration number – something can be done without inflicting the full force of the law.
“We hope motorists will see it as less heavy handed than an instant fine and a deterrent to them speeding in future.”
