MOTORISTS in Newquay are being warned to slow down following the installation of new speed awareness cameras.

Newquay Town Council has erected speed activated awareness signs at Pentire Road, Tower Road, at William Hosken Road near Nansledan School and at Porth Way.

Further cameras are also initially being put in place at Treloggan Road and Trevemper Road by the Trenance Gardens.

The six cameras will be moved around the town regularly depending on where speeding has become a problem.

Councillors have championed the cameras following complaints from resident groups and schools throughout Newquay who highlighted speeding hotspots and asked for action to be taken. 

The longstanding project has required the devolution of powers from Cornwall Council to the town council which has taken an extended period of time to achieve. 

The signs will not issue tickets but will act as guidance and a warning to motorists who are not familiar with the area and gather data on speeding and car movements for both Cornwall Council and the police.

The cameras have been paid for with money from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the contribution to local infrastructure paid by local developers when they build new housing. 

Similar signs have been used to gather the necessary data before the installation of permanent speed cameras. 

Cllr Olly Monk said: “The town council has got six speed awareness cameras. Cameras are up at Pentire, Porth, Nansledan and Tower Road and cameras are going up at Trenance and Treloggan this week. 

“We’re staggering putting them up so we can stagger taking them down to spread out the workload. These cameras remind motorists of the speed limit and have proved very successful across Cornwall. 

“The cameras will be moved regularly around the town to ensure that any area across the town is covered when needed.

“Any residents who feel that they have a suitable location in mind should contact me and their suggestions will be considered.”

Cllr Louis Gardner added: “Following concerns from local residents a number of speed warning signs have been installed around the town.

“These signs not only warn motorists of their speed, but they also gather data for use by the police and Cornwall Council.

“These signs have been installed at the direct request of local residents where safety of children is paramount or where there have been recent accidents and will be regularly moved to remain effective.”

A new study carried out by Go Compare Car Insurance, has uncovered that Devon and Cornwall is among the biggest speeding hotspots in England and Wales. 

There were 131,460 speeding offences issued across the area over a year, equivalent to one for every 4.64 vehicles.