Council row erupts over Coventry speeding fines

A PROPOSAL from the opposition Conservative group on Coventry City Council that money raised from speeding fines stays in the city has been rejected by the ruling Labour party because they say it is already a work in progress.

- By DAVID LAWRENCE

But the decision has been described as a 'pathetic state of affairs' and prompted suggestions that the council was giving up at the first hurdle.

The motion, put forward at the latest full council meeting by Cllr Julie Lepoidevin, said: "This council calls upon the Secretary of State for Transport to implement a policy change to allow local authorities and/or their designated Road Safety Partnerships to retain 100 per cent of all net revenue from speeding enforcement fines. This retention must be provided on the condition that this funding is ring-fenced exclusively for local road safety initiatives."

Cllr Patricia Hetherton told the meeting that there were more average speed enforcement cameras in Coventry than anywhere else outside of London and that the council took road safety seriously. But she added: