Speed camera fine article

FURTHER to the articles published on the May 12 in both the Eastbourne Herald and the Bexhill Observer with the heading Pensioner Vows to fight Speeding Fine, I wish to clear up some misunderstandings. Firstly, at no time did I '˜vow' to fight the speeding charge or refuse to pay the Â£60 fine. The reason I spoke to a member of your staff was to warn unsuspecting motorists of this camera, which in my opinion is unfairly placed and catches out drivers in a particularly unfair way.

The road in question is one of the main feeder roads into Eastbourne, the A2270. It is the major road for visitors to enter Eastbourne. The camera is situated at junction Willingdon Road/Beverington Road. I was flashed in late September 2010 at approximately 9.30pm. I felt that this was incorrect so I decided to contest the speeding notice with the Police Authority, with the following submission:

• Insufficient distance between first change of speed limit signs and camera, especially in darkness.

• Inadequate and unlit warning signage for entering a change of speed limit.

• The accuracy of this speed camera, as I did not consider I was speeding and the speed shown was incorrect.

If I wished to contest the speeding notice then I would need information which could be used as evidence. I requested the following information from the authorities to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information Act:

• How many speeding offences have been recorded by this camera since January 2010? Where does this camera feature in a scale on 1 to 10 in the amount of offences recorded since January 2010 in the Eastbourne area?

• The money collected in fines from this camera since January 2010.

• Proof of the accuracy of this camera and the dates on which it was checked since January 2010

After six months of continual asking for this information, I received only one of my requests, which showed this camera had recorded 973 offences - four times more than any other camera in the Eastbourne area.

I was also informed that the Police Authority does not have any information concerning monies collected. As far as my own speeding notice is concerned, the Authority has withdrawn it and no further action will be taken.

MALCOLM JOEL

Peartree Lane

Bexhill on Sea