Political disagreement has emerged over a planned scheme to monitor speeding outside Swindon schools after the borough council’s new Conservative administration halted a pilot before any data had been collected.
Councillor Nick Gardiner, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, has paused the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) speed monitoring pilot while governance, data-sharing and operational arrangements are reviewed.
The council confirmed there is currently no date for the pilot to resume. It said five trial sites have already been installed, but none of the cameras have collected any data. It also confirmed the decision will not affect the Safer Schools funding supporting the project.
Cllr Gardiner said:
“The aim of improving road safety is absolutely right, but the previous Labour administration put the announcement ahead of the detail when it came to the ANPR speed monitoring pilot.
“Since becoming Cabinet Member for Highways, I have reviewed the scheme and taken the decision to pause it until the necessary governance, data-sharing and operational arrangements are properly in place.
“This is not a criticism of officers, who have been working to deliver the political direction they were given. But residents rightly expect schemes involving road safety and data to be properly thought through before they are launched.
“My job now is to make sure the scheme is properly governed, fully compliant and capable of delivering real benefits for residents.
“Road safety matters too much to be treated as a headline. It has to be done properly.”
The move has prompted criticism from Swindon South MP Will Stone, who said he had recently called on council leader Gary Sumner to introduce additional traffic calming measures following discussions with ministers and the family of Harry Parker. Mr Stone said:
“I was very disappointed to see the new Conservative administration in Swindon are rolling back on traffic calming measures along Akers Way.
“Last week after further discussions with ministers and Harry Parker’s family I specifically asked Gary Sumner, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, to deliver more road calming measures along the road.
“In light of this, I was surprised to see the Conservatives repeal the Labour administration’s ANPR pilot rather than allowing the pilot to conclude and reviewing the evidence of its effectiveness then.
“I would implore the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Transport to think again and introduce more road calming measures along Akers Way.”
Former Cabinet Member for Highways, Labour councillor Chris Watts, disputed the council’s description of the scheme, saying it had never been formally launched and remained in a 12-month development and evaluation phase. He said:
“I am concerned by the statement issued, particularly as I have not been contacted by the Cabinet Member regarding this matter.
“The ANPR speed-camera programme has not been formally launched as stated, it remains within a 12-month development and evaluation phase. The five test sites are essential for gathering baseline data, alongside other monitoring methods, to understand how different deployment styles perform.
“All communications issued to date have been clear that this is a trial programme designed to assess the technology, develop operational relationships with the manufacturer and Wiltshire Police, and focus on crossing points heavily used by school children.
“Establishing an appropriate governance structure is a normal part of programme development and will evolve as evidence is collected. Other councils have already undertaken similar work, and I am sure that our officers are following established best practice.
“The public statement made by the lead member that is overtly and unnecessarily political does not reflect the status of the programme and risks creating misunderstanding.
“Even when ANPR cameras are inactive within the development stages, their presence has a demonstrable positive impact on driver behaviour. The Cabinet Member undermining confidence in the programme will reduce the overall benefit.”
Labour councillor Rebecca Banwell-Moore said the scheme had been developed following repeated complaints from residents about speeding on Homington Avenue in Badbury Park. She said:
“As the Parish Councillor for Badbury Park I worked with Chris to get this up and running on Homington Avenue after so many complaints about speeding and safety concerns. Heidi supported the initiative which was funded through Safer Schools funding.”
She added: “I’ve been working with Chris Watts to get smiley face speed signs along Homington Avenue, in addition to the ANPR, as it’s such a long road, around one kilometre, and speeding is a massive issue along the whole stretch of the road.”
The disagreement marks one of the first major political disputes over transport policy since the Conservatives took control of Swindon Borough Council.
While both parties agree on the need to improve road safety outside schools, they remain divided over whether the pilot should have continued while governance arrangements were completed, or whether pausing the project was the appropriate decision.
