Goodbye to Shropshire's first speed camera

Workmen today moved in to pull down Shropshire's first ever speed camera.

The controversial camera in Bennetts Bank, Wellington, Telford, has been out of action since July after being set on fire by vandals.

Telford & Wrekin Council chiefs confirmed last month that the camera would not be replaced due to funding cuts.

Today contractors working for West Mercia's Safer Roads Partnership turned up to take the camera down.

Councillor Adrian Lawrence, cabinet member for environment at Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "A final decision on future road safety measures on Bennetts Bank will be made shortly.

"The move supports our drive to review the number of fixed speed cameras in the borough and re-focus efforts on other measures, including mobile cameras, to reduce speeds in places where we know there are particular community concerns."

Councillor Lawrence said statistics had shown the camera had not proved as effective in terms of reducing accidents and casualties as other fixed cameras in the borough.

He said the decision had also been influenced by changes in traffic patterns, following the installation of traffic signals at the Ketley Brook junction.

"The review of alternative road safety measures will be informed by the recorded accidents along Bennetts Bank and Watling Street," added Councillor Lawrence.

Arsonists threw a tyre around the camera before setting it alight – the fourth such attack since it was put up.

One of the attacks saw the camera sawn clean in half by an angle grinder.

In the latest – and last – attack film inside the camera was completely destroyed.

Safety chiefs admitted anyone who had been caught speeding in the days before the attack could have escaped punishment.