Road safety charity Brake has given Cambridgeshire MP Steve Barclay an award for his campaign to reactivate a speed camera and have signs installed, aimed at reducing casualties on a stretch of the A47.Nine crashes in three years and five deaths in six years prompted Mr Barclay to start a campaign in April 2011, calling for a defunct speed camera to be reactivated, and signs placed up to warn drivers on the dangerous stretch.

He succeeded in having the Highways Agency agree the signs should be placed and the camera reactivated, though it insisted it would not do the work unless the local parish council stump up the £30,000 cost – because the road didn’t meet a specific casualty level. But after pleading with Road Safety minister Mike Penning, the Highways Agency reneged at the behest of the Government.

Mr Barclay said: “I am honoured to receive the recognition from Brake. There is often a sense within rural communities that their voice is not heard and the initial response from the Highways Agency struck me as dismissive.

“It cannot be right that two simple road signs would cost £30k or that a speed camera already in place could not be switched on in response to local concerns.  It is pleasing to see the community work together to have a minister listen and act on their concerns. I hope this stretch of road will be a little safer as a result.”