Camera trial bid to tackle village vehicle noise issue
Excess vehicle noise blighting South Downs villages could be tackled with new acoustic cameras.
Arundel & South Downs MP Andrew Griffith said he was leading a bid for the county to trial the cameras, in a bid to tackle an issue long suffered by villagers.
In his weekly column, Mr Griffith said: “Tackling this has long been one of my priorities and this week I am leading a bid for West Sussex to be a pioneer county in trialling new acoustic cameras to catch the small minority of anti-social road users in the act.
"Last month, the Department for Transport confirmed it would be trialling innovative noise cameras across England and Wales and is seeking just four locations in which to host them.”
Excessive and anti-social vehicle noise has been a long-term issue which blights the lives of residents living in otherwise peaceful West Sussex villages.
Tackling this has long been one of my priorities and this week I am leading a bid for West Sussex to be a pioneer county in trialling new acoustic cameras to catch the small minority of anti-social road users in the act.
Last month, the Department for Transport confirmed it would be trialling innovative noise cameras across England and Wales and is seeking just four locations in which to host them.
I have already spoken to the Transport Secretary about the strong local appetite to be at the cutting edge of tackling this problem and have brought together Sussex Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, West Sussex County Council, Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and local campaign groups, to make the case for a camera to be
located on the proven noise ‘hotspot’ on the A29 at Bury Hill.
On average, 34 per cent of vehicles on Bury Hill were speeding on a given day and the useful data captured along this stretch of road will be submitted to the Department for Transport.
Although only one location can be named in the bid itself, I hope that in time many other similar noise hotspots along the A272, the A29 and other local roads will be covered too.
Anyone wishing to add their own support for this bid should please email me by Monday, May 23.
On the topic of traffic safety, this week is National Walk to School Week. As well as being the health option, I want children to be able to walk to school safely which is why I am backing the safe Arundel to Ford Station walking and cycling route.
Findon will also be benefiting from a safer shared-use path connecting Findon Valley to Findon Village, and I would be happy to back other projects in the area.
■For more details about his work in the Arundel & South Downs constituency, visit Andrew’swebsite at www. andrewgriffithmp.com
Contact Andrew by email at Andrew@GriffithMP.com or call 0207 219 4557.