New noise camera being installed on the A34 in Cheshire
It's to clamp down on revving engines, boy racers and car meets
Last updated 17th Oct 2022
A stretch of road in Cheshire at the centre of dozens of complaints over anti-social driving is getting a new noise-detecting traffic camera installed.
Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer, Cheshire Constabulary and Cheshire East Council have joined forces to tackle boy racers and noisy car meets on the A34.
It's after residents reportedly raised concerns at a public meeting last year about the noise made by cars along with A34 in Wilmslow and Alderley Edge, particularly around the Whitehall Bridge roundabout, where the camera is set to be installed before the end of the month.
The camera will be able to record noise above an acceptable level and identify the responsible vehicles, giving the police and council key information about the worst offenders and enabling enforcement action to be taken against them.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer, said:
“Making Cheshire’s roads safer is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan, so I’m pleased to have been able to fund an acoustic camera along the A34 to try and tackle inconsiderate driving that is having an impact on local residents.
“The data we get from this trial will inform how we tackle this issue going forward. I am eager to see the difference this camera trial could make both now and in the future.”
The camera has been purchased by the Commissioner and the installation will be funded and undertaken by the Council. Data will be assessed once the trial is complete and if successful, discussions will take place about making the acoustic camera a permanent solution.
Cllr Craig Browne, chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee, and Deputy Leader of the Council, said:
“This proactive, collaborative approach will complement the planned installation of the 20mph zone and traffic calming measures in Alderley Edge, scheduled for the new year, to tackle the recognised nuisance and risks faced by local residents.
“For context, 1,342 residents responded to a community survey carried out by the council’s anti-social behaviour team back in the summer of 2020, which I understand was the highest response we had ever had to such a survey. These two projects are a big win for Cheshire East Council, the police and the local communities.”
In addition to the acoustic camera trial, Cheshire Constabulary has sought to reassure residents through increasing police activity along the A34. This includes driver engagement days, enforcement activity with the Roads and Crime team, using Tru Cam devices to catch speeding cars and putting dispersal orders in place.
Cheshire Officers have also received training from the West Midlands Operation Hercules team, who specialise in dealing with car meets and anti-social driving.
Inspector Andy Baker said:
“We have identified the hotspots of where car meets and anti-social driving are taking place and we aim to crack down on the offences in the area, for the safety of the drivers and other members of the public.
“There can be serious consequences from car meets and anti-social driving, so if we can prevent it from happening, then my officers are doing their job to keep the people of Cheshire safe in Wilmslow.”
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