MPs welcomes speed camera changes after taking the fight to Parliament

Just days after Hazel Grove MP Lisa Smart led a parliamentary debate demanding the government make it easier for local communities to get speed cameras, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has released updated guidance, in line with her demands. 

The current national guidance requires three deaths or serious injuries before recommending speed cameras. The revised TfGM guidance now adds in community concerns or smaller accidents as criteria for cameras.

Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart said: “I have spent years campaigning for the Government to update its massively out-of-date guidance, and for TfGM to take a lead on this – and it is great to see the changes I have been calling for starting to be delivered. 

“Constituents felt that they were left to fend for themselves on unsafe roads. They were tired of reporting the same danger again and again. And they were angry that nothing was changing until someone was seriously hurt or worse.

“Well done to Greater Manchester for taking a lead on this – the Government needs to follow.”

The MP now wants the national advice to be updated too, and for funding streams to match up with the new requirements for cameras. 

She continued: “I am looking forward to my next visit to Mellor Primary School, after the entire year six class wrote to me about speeding on Longhurst Lane.

“It was their concerns that I read out in Parliament, and I’ll be delighted to be able to share with them the changes that are now coming. I’ll be even happier when I see speed cameras in place, keeping them safe.”