Politics & Council · Swindon

Speed monitoring device activated on busy Stratton St. Margaret road

By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published

Illustrative stock photograph; not a verified image of the reported event or person
Illustrative stock image (Pexels); not a verified photograph of the people, place or event reported.

A speed-tracking device on Grange Drive has been activated as part of a council pilot scheme, following a pause in the programme earlier this year.

A speed monitoring device on Grange Drive in Stratton St. Margaret has been activated today, marking a restart to a council-led road safety pilot scheme. The device is one of five automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) units installed across Swindon as part of a 12-month initiative aimed at gathering data on vehicle speeds and traffic patterns.

The pilot, which initially commenced in early 2026, was suspended in June. At that time, Swindon Borough Council indicated that a pause was necessary to finalise the formal policy framework governing the use of the devices. With that policy work now concluded, the council has proceeded with the activation of the cameras.

Unlike conventional yellow enforcement cameras, these units are designed to be less conspicuous. They function by reading vehicle number plates to compile data on how traffic uses the road. This information is shared with Wiltshire Police, who may use the evidence to issue warning letters or penalty notices to drivers found to be exceeding speed limits.

Other cameras under the same pilot are currently positioned at:

Okus Road

Croft Road

Akers Way

Homington Avenue

The placement of the Grange Drive camera has been a subject of debate. Local councillor for Stratton St. Margaret, Marco Di Pinto, has publicly questioned the location of the unit near the local shops. He has suggested that the device would be more effective if it were relocated to a straighter section of the road near the Birchwood Road junction, where he believes instances of speeding are more prevalent.

However, the council has confirmed that the camera will remain in its current position for the time being. Councillor Nick Gardiner, cabinet member for highways and transport, stated that an adequate trial period is required to properly evaluate the effectiveness of the device at the current site before any potential relocation is considered.

The pilot scheme, which focuses on areas frequently used by schools, aims to guide future decisions regarding road safety infrastructure across the borough.

Source: Swindon Advertiser - Politics · View original