Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Norman Baker,
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Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
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At Last! It's "Lights, Camera, Action" At Beddingham
Safety cameras at Beddingham Level Crossing, designed to stop drivers zig-zagging around the barrier, were finally due to be made operational this weekend.
This may be of some surprise to people who thought that there were already working cameras at the crossing, but the local MP today reveals that, following faults with the system, the cameras have not actually ever been switched on since their installation around two years ago.
The upgrade was due to take place between midnight on Saturday 17th July and 5:00am on Sunday 18th July, during which time this stretch of the A27 was closed.
Commenting on this Norman says:
"I welcome the fact that we will finally have some red light cameras and induction loops at Beddingham. It is absurd that the cameras installed some two years ago have never functioned.
"Sadly and incredibly, there have been some drivers who have been playing "beat the train", and zig-zagging round the barriers when they are down. It is this behaviour that persuaded me that there does, for safety reasons, have to be a separation of road and rail at this point. In the meantime, I pressed for cameras which, although installed quickly, never worked. Now they are at last being replaced, but what a waste of money and what a stay of incompetence.
"I did in fact raise very forcibly with the Minister, Kim Howells, the need for Network Rail to activate the cameras. I did not however make my concerns public due to the implications that this might have had for public safety at the crossing.
"Now that Network Rail are finally getting around to addressing the problem, I feel that the time has come to publicly ask the question why it has taken them a whole two years to remedy such an important safety issue."