Buckinghamshire's speed camera body axed

The Bucks Free Press tried to contact the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership office this morning, about another matter, but was told the organisation no longer existed.

When further enquiries were made, Val Letheren, transport boss at Buckinghamshire County Council, thought it had been 'reorganised', while a police press officer directed us back to the former TVSRP office.

But former staff at the Partnership, some of whom now work for a private company in the same office, told the Bucks Free Press they were made redundant and the organisation ceased operations earlier this month.

The Partnership managed the region's speed cameras and launched various initiatives to reduce deaths on the roads.

After seeking advice from council officers, Cllr Letheren said the Partnership had “come to a natural end” and Thames Valley Police and Buckinghamshire County Council have now taken on its roles.

TVSRP had seven staff employed at its headquarters in Banbury, with a number of additional officers based at local police stations.

It was part funded by Buckinghamshire County Council, which received funding from the Government.

After the Government cut its road safety budget, the council decided it could not afford to continue the funding. The council's budget documents for 2011/12 show £317,000 was withdrawn from TVSRP.

The Partnership warned last year that road deaths would not continue to fall if it suffers major funding cuts. It said there had been a 53% reduction in road deaths between 2000 and 2009.

But Cllr Letheren said the new arrangement will look “the same as ever” to the public. She added: “We are working in partnership with the police and have got rid of a whole lot of bureaucracy. I think it's better value for money.”

Eight public bodies had agreed four years ago to fund TVSRP. Oxfordshire County Council, the biggest, withdrew its funding last year.