Many residents express bemusement at the current Liberal Democrat Mayors (Dave Hodgson) fanfare and self-congratulatory article claiming he secured funding to install 15 new average speed cameras across Bedford Borough.
The short answers is no, not all money is coming from our suddenly very generous Mayor who is quick to take credit for perceived acts of benevolence while his team shakes down parish councils for funding.
In the camera’s listed 4 cameras are being contributed to by parish councils to an eye watering tune of £127,500. Brickhills parish council are basically funding the camera themselves and have contributed a total of £85,000 towards the works.
Not only this but 3 of the new speed cameras aren’t so shiny and new and are instead existing cameras being replaced or moved. When you subtract those numbers from our current Mayors’ claim he doesn’t appear so generous.
But the shake down of parish council’s doesn’t stop here. Many councillors have consistently asked and pressured the current Liberal Democrat Mayor to install much needed units to curb dangerous driving in their wards only to be told there is no money.
Wootton residents had been completely neglected by the current Mayor who left it to the parish council and Wotton Sovereign Wealth Fund to foot a whooping £240,000 bill. Turvey’s parish council and ward councillor were also shaken down for £10,000 so they can get their own average speed cameras.
So, no, the funding for the cameras were not as it seemed although it is bemusing how suddenly there are now millions to fix issues left to rot under his leadership.
Sadly though, like a train wreck, it get worse. Not only have some of these camera’s taken years to finally be installed. Many areas are still left neglected but don’t take our word for it, one resident has already sent a letter to Bedford Independent to express his frustration at Mayor Dave’s “priorities”, Queen’s Park once again overlooked.
Perhaps when Mayor Dave is finished electioneering he can start solving issues in Bedford Borough?
