Beeston speed camera

There have been rumours that the 50mph speed camera on the A1 at Beeston is due to be decommissioned.

But the Highways Agency, which is in charge of the speed camera, says it cannot comment on whether a camera is or will be operational.

The camera caught more speeding motorists in 2011 than any other camera in Bedfordshire.

It was back in 1992 that this newspaper launched an A1 campaign to tackle the speeding cars.

In the 1970s and 80s there had been numerous accidents on the stretch through Sandy and Beeston, with a number leading to serious injuries or fatalities.

Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown visited the area and described the road as a ‘ribbon of death.’ The message was clear, people wanted the traffic slowed down. Police were initially resistant to calls for a speed camera. But after a determined campaign, petitions, public meetings and the support of Mid Beds MP Sir Nicholas Lyel, the first fixed speed camera in Bedfordshire was installed under the footbridge at Beeston.

Since then the number of serious accidents on that stretch of the A1 has dramatically decreased.

What are your thoughts on this matter? Email [email protected]