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The chairman of a town’s highways committee has been ticked off after he admitted that he liked to drive “at pace”.
Cllr Paul Cooper (Con), who chairs the Maidstone Transportation Board, said: “I am a motorist and I do like to drive at pace.”
“When I see a speed camera, I tend to slow down. I don’t intentionally speed past schools, but let’s be honest, most people doing 35, 36 or 37mph in a 30mph zone, don’t believe they are doing much harm.”
Cllr Stuart Jeffery told Cllr Cooper that driving at 35mph in a 30mph zone, was “irresponsible, dangerous and illegal” and said: “I think you should be setting a good example to the public, not calling yourself a wild child.”
But Cllr Cooper was unrepentant. He said: “I believe that members of the public expect honesty and integrity from us.
“Most people do drive above the speed limit, and as I look around here [the council chamber], we might not all wish to put that as a matter of public record, but I am sure that we all have, and I am delighted to have been honest with the public tonight.”
The exchange came during a debate on safety measures for the A229 Loose Road, just above its junction with Sheals Crescent, close to South Borough Primary School.
There used to be a speed camera there, but it was not upgraded when other cameras in Maidstone were changed from analogue to digital six years ago.
The camera continued to stand as a deterrent for three years, even though it was not working, but the column was finally removed three years ago.
Since then Cllr Dinesh Khadka (Lib Dem) has led a campaign to have a new camera installed, presenting a petition to the Transportation Board signed by 123 people in March last year, but KCC has insisted the requirements of the new digital technology made that an impossibility.
That was not considered credible by councillors.
Cllr Brian Clark (Lib Dem) said: “It is unbelievable that we can put a man on the moon, but that KCC cannot install a speed camera on a bit of real estate [the school] that it already owns.”
Cllr Cooper also did not accept the excuse, saying: “We have been told that modern technology cannot work here, that the old technology was better.
“We’ve been told some flim-flam in the past, but that is among the best I’ve ever heard!”
Cllr Tom Cannon (Con) assured members that he had held talks with the cabinet member for highways, Cllr Neil Baker (Con), who had assured him that KCC would at least move forward with plans to add flashing amber lights to the school warning signs outside South Borough to encourage drivers to slow down.
Cllr Cooper said that amber lights would be a waste of money and achieve nothing.
He said: “I couldn’t give a toss about a flashing light and I don’t believe many people do.
“A speed camera is what’s needed.”
