Speed fines soar to £2.6m

Speed camera fines have increased seven-fold in the West Midlands over the past 10 years, figures revealed today – as one highways boss said he wants them removed from the region's roads.

More than £2.6million was collected in a single year in the region from speeding fines – up from £375,000 in 1997.

In Staffordshire, the figure has risen almost 240 per cent to more than £3million, and £2.7million was raised in the West Mercia region.

The revelation comes as Walsall's cabinet member for highways Councillor Anthony Harris demanded a review of all speed cameras in his borough that could see some of them taken down.

He branded them money-making traps that have little to do with road safety.

His comments follow those of council chiefs in Swindon, Wiltshire, who have demanded cameras be axed.

Coun Harris said: "Many cameras are blatantly just there to raise money and have got nothing at all to do with safety.

"I am very suspicious about the architecture of where some of these cameras are placed. Some in the hotspots will obviously be appropriate, but I will be asking for those that aren't appropriate to be removed."

Councillor Harris said council officers will begin the review of cameras when they return from holidays later in the summer.

He said: "At the moment, drivers get to know where the cameras are, and they simply speed up and slow down between them, which is not good for safety or emissions."

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said the Government was committed to speed cameras, adding: "Cameras are there to save lives, not make money.

"Independent research has shown there are 1,745 fewer deaths and serious injuries at camera sites each year."