A bid to delay Swindon Council’s landmark decision to scrap speed cameras failed to get into first gear at a scrutiny committee meeting last night.

The decision to remove speed cameras will not come from Swindon Council but will be down to the other members of the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership.

Lib Dem leader Stan Pajak last night pleaded with fellow committee members to call the decision back to full council, citing lack of an alternative strategy as evidence of the need for further consideration.

But the majority of Conservative councillors on the committee shot down the motion and waved the decision through.

Coun Pajak raised his motion saying he knew he had probably already lost but would fight the battle anyway.

He said evidence presented by the lead member for highway, transport and strategic planning, Coun Peter Greenhalgh, was challengeable.

And he said there seemed to be some contradictions between what the police and the cabinet were saying.

He also said that Coun Greenhalgh had yet to produce viable alternatives to replace speed cameras and that the council should take its time to consider the subject carefully.

He said: “The three E’s that we always talk about in relation to this topic are education, engineering and enforcement, and speed cameras are a proven and effective way of enforcement.

“We have to look at what comes after this decision. What we don’t want to do is end up with education, engineering and encouragement.”

Coun Greenhalgh replied that his proposals were backed up by data from the Transport Research Laboratory, which showed that accidents are attributable to a wider range of factors than just speed, as well as a Department For Transport report, which stated only six per cent of accidents are as a result of speed.

He said: “We want to work with our partners to ensure they have the resources to improve road safety in Swindon.

“There has been a clarion call from people, certainly the ones who have contacted me, for a return to active road policing.”

Coun Greenhalgh also reiterated his desire for a serious debate on the issues of road safety.

He said: “Now is the time to have this important debate without the Party politics.

“I am only interested in improving road safety in Swindon. Let’s hope that Swindon as a whole will drive differently and think differently because of these measures.”

Swindon Council will now give six months notice to leave the safety camera partnership but any physical removal of speed cameras in April will be the responsibility of the remaining members.

Coun Greenhalgh made the admission in response to concerns raised by Labour’s transport spokesman Derique Montaut, who also asked for specific details of alternative measures that were being considered to replace speed cameras.

Coun Greenhalgh responded by saying: “The whole point is that we can now look into alternative methods over the next six months.

“As for methods being proven to be as effective as speed cameras – I have to say I have yet to read a review that conclusively shows the effectiveness of speed cameras.”

Coun Montaut also asked where the council will find the estimated £360,000 to withdraw from the safety camera partnership and he wanted to know if cuts would have to be made to find this money.

Coun Greenhalgh said the cost of withdrawal has yet to be clarified and £360,000 is the maximum figure the council would have to pay.