ONLY a quarter of Essex’s speed cameras are working at any one time, the Gazette has learned.

The council has 99 fixed safety camera sites – ten in Colchester and seven in Tendring.

But Essex County Council does not have enough cameras to keep each site active all the time, so only between 20 and 30 per cent can catch speeding drivers at any given time.

The figures were revealed after we lodged a Freedom of Information request.

John Holland, chairman of motorists’ group North East Essex Roadar, said there should be operational cameras at all of the sites, but agreed ultimately, the housings still worked as a deterrent.

He added: “The fact it is there will put people off speeding whether it is switched on or off.

“What is ridiculous is when you have safety cameras put in place and then there is a sign next to it, saying not in use.

“I went along the A14 the other day and there were many with those signs. If a camera is there, it is for a good reason. It means it is an accident area.”

Elaine Appleby, senior road safety officer at County Hall, said the county’s 99 fixed safety camera sites were made “live” on a rotational basis, with between 20 per cent to 30 per cent live at any one time.

She added: “The physical cameras can be moved from housing to housing. We do not have 99 cameras.”

The county council is reviewing the use of speed cameras in the hope of saving money and will decide some time during the next financial year.

Oxfordshire was the first county to turn off all its cameras in August but is switching them back on in April.