Could speed cameras be coming back to Walsall?
Walsall Council has not ruled out bringing back speed cameras to the borough after an initiative was launched by two other local authorities.
Birmingham and Solihull councils have switched on nine new average speed cameras between them in recent days, with Wolverhampton also looking at whether to switch on new cameras in the city.
Walsall Council spokesman Rich Bolton, said the authority is 'very keen' to see the outcome of Birmingham and Solihull's 21-month trial, while the authority's Liberal Democrat leader welcomed the possible return of cameras to the town
Speed cameras across the Black Country were switched off in 2013 as they were costing too much money.
Mr Bolton said: "We are very keen to see the outcome of the trial and we will be analysing the outcome with our partners."
Councillor Ian Shires, the authority's Liberal Democrat leader, praised Birmingham and Solihull's move as a 'good idea' and said he would like to look at something similar, providing it was affordable.
He said: "I think it is a good idea. They were turned off originally because of cost and other issues but the problem now is that because people know they are turned off the average speed is increasing.
"We have got issues in certain areas where people are travelling far too fast. I would welcome looking at speed cameras again to see if it is affordable.
"It is something I was going to be raising with the Labour group anyway.
"From our point of view enforcement is a key issue and it appears the only way to enforce issues like speeding is by having some form of charging system.
"I know if you go up to Staffordshire people are far more wary where the cameras are because the majority of them are still working.
"There are people out there who abuse speed and we need to look at that."
But Councillor Mike Bird, Wasall's Conservative leader and former leader of the council, said he thought cameras were merely 'cash cows'.
Asked about whether he would like to see any switched on in the borough, he said: "No I would not.
"As far as I am concerned they are nothing more than a cash cow and I am certainly not in favour of them. What you see is people driving up to them slowing down, then speeding away."
