Average speed cameras monitor how long it takes to travel between two set points on a road, measured by two cameras at each point. They aim to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by encouraging improved driver behaviour and speed limit compliance.
Traffic speeds in Helsby are regularly monitored both by an interactive speed sign on Chester Road (by Queens Drive) and through a handheld speed detection device by the local Police Community Support Officer.
An average of 60% of traffic passing the speed sign exceeds 30mph. Given this data, and the fact that speeding traffic was highlighted as an issue in the council’s 2022 community consultation exercise, Helsby Parish Council applied to Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to take part in their average speed camera pilot programme.
Helsby, along with several other areas across Cheshire and Warrington, were selected for the programme. Helsby Parish Council has agreed to cover the purchase price of the devices and the installation costs (around £55,000) and the PCC has agreed to underwrite any maintenance costs for up to 15 years (in the region of around £8,000 per year).
Both cameras are located on Chester Road, one is at the high school end of the village and the other one is near to Freshmeadow Lane. Drivers only passing one camera (i.e using side roads between the 2 camera sites) will not be monitored by the system.
The PCC has agreed to provide the council with monthly data from the scheme. This information will be shared on this page in due course