Speed cameras installed along two busy roads in Swansea to clamp down on speeding and protect the safety of the public still aren't operational years after they were first installed. GoSafe made the admission to WalesOnline, revealing how "significant investment" would be needed before the situation could change.
The Siemens SafeZone average speed cameras along the B4295 between Gowerton and Penclawdd are not live. We reported back in 2015 how they were being installed after a number of people died following accidents on the road. You can read about that by clicking here. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed his concerns that there may be further tragedies there in the future as a result. He said: "It seems to be that most of the locals living in Penclawdd know they don't work, and you see them come flying past. At some point in time, there is going to be another accident."
Meanwhile, the digital fixed cameras on Carmarthen Road, installed in June 2018 as part of a £455,000 initiative to improve road safety, still do not work nearly four years on. GoSafe, which has responsibility for the operation of the cameras, has previously said the reason for the delay is down to the installation of technology, testing of the equipment, establishing communications links, ensuring back office capabilities and training staff to process the data. You can read more about that by clicking here.
A new statement from GoSafe, which addresses both sets of cameras, read: "South Wales Police host the Central Ticket Office who administer offences across mid and south Wales and have been working in Partnership with Highways Authorities and Welsh Government through GoSafe for a number of years.
"Due to the advent of digital technology and the demands upon IT departments to install several camera types, we have reached a point where significant development and investment in systems is required before we can make these schemes live and absorb the extra demand which will arise as part of these schemes.
"To that end, we have approved additional resourcing in the IT staff team to assist with the backlog of development work to bring all schemes online. To date, our recruitment attempts have been unsuccessful and have meant that we are unable to secure the staff to deliver the IT solutions required.
"I offer my assurance that we have dedicated resources working diligently on this matter to ensure that we continue to make progress towards our enforcement goals’."
