A NOISE-activated camera in Wilmslow was triggered 2,021 times but Cheshire East missed out on £200k of fines because it hasn’t imposed a public space protection order, a resident said.

The acoustic camera was installed on the Wilmslow Bypass following a series of incidents involving revving engines and speeding cars.

The road is often used by 'boy racers' and the excessive noise has been a nuisance to residents for many years.

Resident Alan Butler told a meeting of the full council: “Our efforts to address this problem have been supported by both Cheshire Police and the police and crime commissioner (PCC), but not by Cheshire East.”

He said the noise camera, which was funded by the PCC, confirmed the scale of the problem and also recorded lots of other anti-social road use.

“However, evidence from the noise camera couldn't be used to raise fines in the absence of a public space protection order (PSPO), which can only be done by Cheshire East,” said Mr Butler.

He told the council: “During the trial period, the camera's 90-decibel threshold, which is much louder than the 72 decibels allowed for new cars, was triggered 2,021 times.

“Cheshire East's role would have been simply to bank the fine proceeds and, had the PSPO been in place during the trial period, Cheshire East would have benefited by more than £200,000.”

He said the adoption of a PSPO by Cheshire East would have been a ‘win, win solution’ - the lives of residents would have been improved, and Cheshire East would have collected the fines.

Mr Butler said the camera had now been removed, despite the police’s offer to manage it.

“In the 19 months of the camera trial, Cheshire East took no action to implement a PSPO, and the camera was removed in April.  My question is, why?”

Cllr Mick WarrenCllr Mick Warren (Image: Cheshire East Council)

Cllr Mick Warren (Ind), chair of the environment and communities committee, said the trial was intended to ‘gather the evidence necessary to inform a decision as to whether a public space protection order can be legally implemented’.

He said the council is working with the PCC and his officers to review the data gathered during the trial and will make a decision around the future implementation of a PSPO ‘once this due diligence has concluded’.

He added: “This has also been subject to working with ward members in town and parish councils to secure funding from the respective councils for permanent acquisition of the camera equipment.”