A CAMPAIGNING councillor has vowed to not give up until average speed cameras on a busy Southend street are put in place.

In March last year Southend Council agreed to the installation of average speed cameras in Eastern Avenue from its junction with Hamstel Road to its junction with Sutton Road.

The cameras have long been called for along the stretch where residents, who launched a petition in favour of the speed-busting measures, say racing motorists put lives at risk.

The plea had previously been dismissed because a survey in 2020 showed the average speed of motorists was 36mph on the 40mph road.

It was agreed a traffic survey set to cost £10,000 would be carried out with £300,000 set aside for the work after it was eventually agreed.

However, the cameras have yet to be installed and St Luke’s Labour councillor Martin Berry has vowed to continue to push for them to be introduced.

Mr Berry said: “It is something I have been pressing for for some time and there have been some incredibly nasty accidents along there.

“We need speed cameras, really anywhere and they take ages to be set up. It is ridiculous that data must be looked at before action is taken.

“There are none there and we are still pressing, this isn’t party political. We had Conservative councillors too helping, it has been a cross party-effort and we are trying to help people driving across Southend.

“We are still pressing for the latest on the situation, as far as I know the request is being reviewed.”

Mr Berry added: “It has been going on for a long time, residents want it and I can’t see a reason not to have it other than budgetary.

“Do bear in mind that we have been in administration for only a few weeks though, nothing can happen immediately and we have done a lot quickly.

“We can’t get it all but we will need cross agency support, working with the police too.”