SPEED camera chiefs have defended their decision to operate mobile cameras on a road already dotted with fixed cameras.

The A338 Spur Road in Bournemouth is once again on Dorset Safety Camera Partnership's mobile camera location list from May 7 until Friday May 13.

The Partnership said the carriageway meets the strict accident criteria it uses to assess camera locations.

In the three-year period between 2000 and 2002, it was the scene of three fatal collisions, one serious collision and 25 slight collisions.

But the road and the 55,000 motorists a day who use it are already well covered by fixed cameras in both directions. A spokesperson for the Partnership said: "The Spur Road is on the list because it falls within the set criteria for us to operate there. It's because a number of people have been killed or seriously injured over a three-year period."

There are currently 43 fixed cameras in operation in Dorset with a further 61 mobile sites and 20 red light cameras.

Around £5.5 million was raised from the cameras in Dorset in less than two years and last week it was revealed that the trigger speeds are being reduced.

Other locations for camera enforcement this week are Ringwood Road at Bear Cross, Carbery Avenue in Bournemouth, Southbourne Overcliffe Drive in Bournemouth, Upton Road in Poole, the Avenue in Poole, Old Wareham Road in Poole and Blandford Road near Badbury Rings.

Mobile cameras will also be operating in areas which do not meet the accident criteria but which have sparked community concerns about excess speed.

These are Surrey Road between Bournemouth and Poole and in the area of Southbourne.

Camera locations

DORSET Safety Camera Partnerships' mobile cameras locations between today and next Friday include:

A338 Spur Road, Bournemouth.

A348 Ringwood Road, Bear Cross.

Carbery Avenue, Southbourne.

Southbourne Overcliffe Drive.

A35 Upton Road, Poole.

B3065 The Avenue, Poole.

Old Wareham Road, Poole.

B3082 Blandford Road near Badbury Rings.

A35 near Friary Press, Dorchester.

A354 Dorchester Road, Upwey; Buxton Road, Preston Road and Chickerell Road, Weymouth.

Surrey Road, Poole and Bournemouth.

Southbourne.

B3081 Wyke Road, Gillingham.

First published: May 7