THE controversial speed camera in Worcester does meet the required criteria, according to an official study.

Figures show that there were almost 27 speed-related collisions on City Walls Road during the period 1999-2001, which is the period upon which the static safety camera site selection was based.

The study follows claims by irate motorists that the unpopular speed camera - the first to be installed in Worcestershire - was erected to raise cash for the Government.

Writers to the Evening News letters page regularly complain that they do not remember accidents having taken place.

In order for a road to qualify for a fixed camera, it has to have been the scene of at least eight accidents over the three years, including at least four people killed or seriously injured as a result of speed-related road collisions.

Collisions

The study shows that in the three-year period there were five collisions resulting in serious injury and a further 22 collisions that resulted in slight injury to one or more people.

Heather Mead, communications manager for the Safety Camera Partnership, said the results showed that the cameras' presence was justified.

She said it is the police investigators who decide whether or not a collision is a result of speeding.

"Under the scheme's rules we can only operate at a site if it can be shown to be a priority for action in terms of speed-related collisions causing deaths and/or serious injuries and problems with abuse of the local speed limit," she said.

"Far from operating where there isn't a problem, as is often alleged, every single one of the partnership's sites are priorities for attention and conform to the scheme's requirements.

"If members of the public have any concerns over the sites we have selected, we will happily provide them with collision statistics.

"They can contact us through the website www.speedaware.org.uk"