The first permanent average-speed cameras in West Yorkshire will soon be installed on the A6120 Outer Ring Road and the A647 Stanningley Bypass.
As reported by WLD last year, Leeds City Council chiefs say the new average speed cameras will be up and running by autumn and will see speed limits reduced from 70mph/60mph to a continuous 50mph.
The speed reduction to 50mph on the A6120 Outer Ring Road and A647 Stanningley Bypass, from Horsforth roundabout to Stanningley Bypass at Henconner Lane Bridge, formed part of a wider programme of improvements which were part of the Connecting West Leeds Phase 2 consultation last year.
The council says the proposal received a 62 per cent positive response.
The existing fixed speed cameras located on A647 Stanningley Bypass, which will be replaced by average speed cameras, will be relocated to A647 Stanningley Road on the central reserve near to Armley Grange Drive junction and the central reserve near to Redcote Lane junction.
They will be able to enforce both east and westbound directions of traffic and are in addition to the three mobile camera bays that are currently installed on A647 Stanningley Road near the junctions of Moorfield Road, Cockshott Lane and Houghley Lane.
Councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: “We have a bold ambition of having zero deaths on Leeds roads by 2040 and the new strategy sets out a flexible, clear and consistent approach to managing speed and safety.
“A more flexible approach to deploying safety cameras is something both ward councillors and I have been requesting for a while. It allows Leeds greater local responsibility in addressing safety concerns in our areas.
“The strategy further builds on our Leeds Transport Strategy aim of ‘Leeds to be a city where you don’t need a car’, ensuring that roads must be safe for people to walk, scoot, wheel, and cycle.”
The speed cameras are being installed as part of a wider strategy which has been created by the West Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership, consisting of local authorities across West Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Police. The strategy works to recognise ‘high risk’ locations, either where speed-related casualties have happened or there is clear evidence of speeding.
Since the strategy’s launch in February 2023, the council have reviewed some of Leeds’ busiest roads, which has resulted in the A6120 Outer Ring Road and A647 Stanningley Bypass receiving support for the introduction of average speed camera enforcements.
Paul Jeffrey, West Yorkshire Police lead for the West Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership, said: “Excessive or inappropriate speed is a common factor in many collisions. Encouraging safe speeds across the road network to prevent speed-related collisions is key to achieving our Vision Zero ambition. West Yorkshire Police remains committed to working with partners to prevent avoidable deaths and serious injuries on our road network.”
WLD reported in March on the latest £20 million Connecting West Leeds plans to reduce traffic congestion and encourage other modes of travel on the A6120 Leeds Outer Ring Road between Pudsey and Horsforth.
It authorised expenditure on a raft of schemes including the new B6156 Calverley Lane accessible bridge, Rodley Roundabout to Dawsons Corner pedestrian and cycle link and a new ramped link for pedestrians and cyclists to the Leeds/Liverpool canal towpath.
The average-speed cameras do not include those used by National Highways on motorways, including motorways in Leeds and West Yorkshire.
Some residents had requested the limit be lowered to 40mph.
But the council said any new speed limit has to conform to the requirements in the Department for Transport’s Setting Local Speed Limits publication, which ensures that a consistent assessment methodology is adopted nationally when making speed limit requests.
A spokesperson added: “Whilst we understand and appreciate that some members of the community requested a reduction to 40mph, the roads in question did not meet the requirements. However, the roads would support a reduction to 50mph, enforced by the new average-speed limit cameras.”
These average speed cameras ar to be welcomed. The current fixed ones are a waste of time, all the idiots on their powerful motorbikes and in their expensive fast cars do is slowdown momentarily then floor it after the cameras. Its very intimidating for those keeping to the limiit to have these bikes and cars trying to push you faster and faster all the time, not only is it dangerous the ridiculous screams and synthetic exhaust notes of these speeding vehicles is very irritating to local residents.
It’s all about money that’s all
When will this work be complete and live at 50mph?