SPEED cameras will not be turned off on Worcestershire’s roads – whatever the cost.

West Mercia Safer Roads Partnership has already had its budget cut from £2.1 million to about £1.5 million and is bracing itself to make further savings after the Government’s comprehensive spending review is revealed in October.

So far, the partnership’s savings have not had an impact on enforcement activity or on delivering road safety awareness campaigns.

No jobs have been lost but the partnership has clawed some money back by not employing new staff to cover additional roles, among other cuts to its back office and administration functions.

The partnership is reluctant to turn cameras off, as has recently happened in Oxfordshire, as it believes “speed enforcement plays an important part in the casualty reduction plans for West Mercia” so it looks like more than 40 fixed and mobile speed cameras in Worcestershire are here to stay.

Indeed, we have reported this week how two speed camera vans will now be operating on the A449 Ombersley Road and A46 Segbeberrow bypass, near Evesham.

Rod Reynolds, partnership manager with West Mercia Safer Roads Partnership, said: “The savings we have made will not have an impact on our frontline operations in terms of enforcement activity and have been focused on a range of back office functions and improving operational efficiency.

“Importantly, we are continuing the valuable work with partners to deliver road safety awareness campaigns, training and education programmes.

“As a partnership, we are not overly reliant on static speed cameras as part of our casualty reduction programme and the governing partnership board has made a positive decision to move towards mobile speed enforcement (speed camera vans) allowing us to be more responsive, flexible and dynamic in our enforcement activity.

“The introduction of our flagship and innovative community concern programme enables the partnership to focus on the priorities of local people.

“We give communities the opportunity to guide our activity in terms of addressing speed and road safety issues that impact adversely on their lives.

“This programme is clearly in line with the government's localism agenda."

One of West Mercia’s partners is Worcestershire County Council and its safer roads manager Dave Clee said while the cuts are “regrettable” he believes the partnership can still improve road safety.

"The cuts imposed so far are for this current financial year only and it is impossible to predict the wider picture until after the government’s October budget statement,” he said. "We do, though, remain hopeful for the future of the partnership and the benefits it brings to our communities."