A FORMER parish councillor has lambasted Swindon Borough Council for the decision to install CCTV cameras in Thamesdown Drive on the grounds that the proposals do not go far enough.

John Stooke, of Haydon Wick, has laid into councillors, calling the planned installation of CCTV cameras “useless and pointless” and “a smokescreen to avoid taking any serious action to improve safety” on the notorious 40mph road.

His comments come just days after Swindon Borough Council announced that cameras are to be installed at three locations along Thamesdown Drive before the end of the financial year.

The cameras, which will cost the council £50,000, will be used to monitor driver behaviour and assist in the prosecution of dangerous drivers.

But Mr Stooke claims this will not stop people speeding and has instead called on the council to install red light cameras to catch those who jump the lights.

Calling the borough’s CCTV proposals “bizarre, costly and ineffective,” Mr Stooke said: “Until we get a red light camera strategy, nothing will change.

“We need a serious breakthrough, not the superficial, face-saving nonsense that was announced last week.”

Explaining the logic behind his desire for red light cameras, he said: “If I go over a red light in Hammersmith in London on Saturday, by Tuesday I have a letter in my in tray with a fine and three points and a clear photograph of me in the car going over a red traffic light.

“I can go to court and argue it but what would be the point as the evidence is manifest, the deterrent absolute, the cost to the public purse minimal.”

He claims his solutions “will have an overall calming effect on the traffic flow”.

He added: “It is human nature. If you believe that a second or two beating a red light may mean a fine of £60 to £100 and three points, you just won’t take the chance.”

Addressing the issue of cost, Mr Stooke claimed that the council had previously promised to ring fence £180,000 for red light cameras in Thamesdown Drive.

He said: “This was subsequently modified down to £130,000. We now see this scheme apparently costing £50,000, and, while I’m no expert, it is conceivable that the scheme I’ve described would not cost any more than the £180,000.”

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “The installation of CCTV cameras on Thamesdown Drive will be done on a trial basis and will monitor traffic and act as a deterrent to poor driver behaviour with images being sent to the police to help them with prosecutions.

“The police are responsible for enforcing moving traffic offences and we are continuing to liaise with them on the issue of red light running. The use of camera enforcement technology remains under consideration.”