Last year the Government announced that Birmingham had been selected to take part in a noise camera trial – devices designed to identify and track drivers who break the law by revving engines.

But discussions with the Department for Transport and local MP, Shabana Mahmood have revealed that the camera is actually set to be installed in Rubery – more than 8 miles away from Birmingham city centre and in the constituency of Conservative MP, Sajid Javid.

The news has disappointed residents who have long complained about the boy racers and rowdy drivers that race around Star City and other parts of the city.

Road noise and antisocial driving is known to contribute to various health problems and causes stress and anxiety for the local community.

Following the news, local MP Shabana Mahmood decided to ask the department where the other trial sites had been selected.

Through a Freedom of Information request, she found out that all 11 of the shortlisted sites were in Conservative MPs’ constituencies.

Commenting on the findings, Shabana Mahmood MP said:  

“It is so disappointing that these noise cameras are going to leafy green villages like Rubery, instead of the areas that really need them.

“Birmingham Ladywood have long suffered the effects of noisy and illegal exhausts as well as the anti-social behaviour that often comes with them.

“But this government continues to overlook the needs of local communities in favour of bolstering its own MPs.

“I will keep working with the council to reduce the numbers of boy racers on our streets, despite the fact that we continue to be ignored for funding and resources from a Conservative Government more interested in playing politics than policing our roads.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

• Press release from the government claiming the noise cameras would be trialled in Birmingham

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/noise-camera-trials-to-detect-rowdy-drivers-coming-to-bradford-bristol-great-yarmouth-and-birmingham

• Screenshots of documents secured through an FOI, which states all of the sites that were shortlisted for the noise camera trials and details that they were all in Conservative MP’s constituencies will be available via request. Please email tash.brewis@parliament.uk for more information