'HAVE WE put our speed cameras in the right places?' Blackpool councillors are asking under a wide-ranging review of the town's speed cameras.

Scrutiny committee members at Blackpool Borough Council will review the siting of speed cameras to check they do not flout government guidelines. They will also examine how money from speed camera fines is used -- actions prompted by the 'high level' of public comment, says the council.

Scrutiny committee chairman Cllr Mary Smith said: "We are doing this scrutiny because this is such an emotive issue. It will be a fair scrutiny.

"Some people are saying that if people are breaking the law then they should pay the penalty. The accident rate in Lancashire is is higher than anywhere else and since we have had the cameras there are 30 per cent less.

"Some people are saying there are too many. We want to know if there are too many.

"Because there are so many cameras people think that we are not keeping to the criteria -- three casualties there in four years. We want to know, are we?

"The general feeling is there are too many, but if there have been accidents there then there's a need for them."

The scrutiny committee will also look at how the cameras are managed by Lancashire Road Safety Partnership, and how the money raised by fines is used, even though that goes central government rather than the borough council.

"I'm looking forward to it. I feel if the public can see we are looking at it and we are going to try and do something about it, they will know we are not brushing over it," Cllr Smith said.

The committee's findings and recommendations will be put in a report, she added.

And she urged the public to air their views, by e-mailing scrutiny@blackpool.gov.uk or writing to Blackpool Borough Council Scrutiny Support, Westgate House, Blackpool FY4 2TS.