STATE of the art cameras to ensure traffic runs smoothly through Newtown have never been activated, the County Times can reveal.
Earlier this year a new £100,000 traffic management system went into operation in Newtown following the removal of the Kerry road roundabout, and cameras were installed to monitor the traffic.
But the cameras were never activated and local campaigners are concerned that Newtown’s traffic problems are not being taken seriously.
Only last month Wales’ Deputy First Minister was challenged to come clean over the preferred route for a Newtown bypass and was accused of dithering and breaking commitments to announce the preferred route.
County Councillor Russell George, in a letter to Deputy first Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones, has demanded an explanation as to why the traffic monitoring cameras in Newtown have never actually been activated.
This comes as Newtown faced huge traffic congestion last weekend, not for the first time.
Russell George, Conservative Assembly Candidate for Montgomeryshire and a county councillor, said: “Like most local people, I had little confidence in this new system when it was being promoted.
“We were told that this system would link back to a remote centre to monitor and control traffic flow in the town.
“It seems beyond belief that despite cameras being installed, they have never actually been activated and indeed Newtown Traffic has not been monitored remotely at all.
“This system cost £100,000, I will be interested in what the Minister for Transport has to say.
“If it’s not working why not? This is the busiest time of the year for traffic in Mid Wales. If we are being told it’s not going to help or make a difference, why was the system put in place at a huge cost in the first place?”
Nick Bourne, leader of the opposition in the Welsh Assembly Government, has also said that he would be asking the question.
“I’m going to put down a series of questions, a lot of public money was spent on this. I want to ask, Why is it not working? When will it be working? Will it be effective, and if not why was all this money spent on it.”
In response to the claims, a Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said: “The cameras in question will be used to monitor traffic flows at this junction and will become fully operational shortly.”