MORE THAN 35,000 people have been caught speeding by cameras on the M4 through Newport since enforcement was introduced last year, the Argus can reveal.

A total of 35,348 people have been caught since cameras became active in October 2016, according to a Freedom of Information request (FOI) submitted by the Argus.

The FOI also revealed that 8,595 of those caught have settled by way of a £100 fixed penalty and three penalty points.

This means that £859,500 has now been collected in fixed penalty income alone by the Courts and Tribunals Service.

However, some of the speeding offences are still within their statutory time limit and therefore the amount is likely to increase.

Of the three-quarters who have not paid a fixed penalty, some will have successfully appealed the penalty, some opted not to pay a fixed penalty but to go through the court system, while others - often those well above the limit - would not be given the option of a fixed penalty.

When plans for speed cameras operating between junctions 24 and 28 were revealed it was seen as controversial by many people.

Bassaleg resident Annie Jenkins said she believes the cameras are not effective at slowing down speeding vehicles.

“You see drivers going full pelt towards the lights then slam on their brakes,” said Mrs Jenkins. “It’s awful that the cameras are making so much money but they’re not doing their job well.You can’t say that the cameras are slowing people down when you see that happening."

“I work in a pub in the city and I see people speeding by the cameras every day.”

Another Bassaleg resident, Oliver Starling said he thinks the cameras are a “money-making exercise”.

“If the cameras have brought in more than £800,000 then that’s proof that they’re there to make money,” said Mr Starling.

“That’s a lot of money being made. When I drive past I regularly see people speeding but slamming on their brakes when coming up to the cameras.”

However Rogerstone resident Lionel Dickinson said the amount of caught people suggests that the cameras are doing their job.

The 80-year-old said: “If so many people have been caught then the cameras are doing their job."

“I can’t stand speeders so I’m glad the cameras are there to catch them and they also help congestion on the M4.”

John Griffiths Newport East AM said: “It’s important that people obey speed limits on motorways.

“I think there are issues in the variable speed limit and to what extent they make it easy to understand on any stretch of the M4 because sometimes it does change speed quite quickly.

"The speed limit needs to be made clear for people in good time.

“In general speed limits are necessity and they are there for the safety of everyone on the road.”

Jason Wakeford, director of campaigns for road safety charity Brake, said speed cameras are a proven way of reducing fatal crashes.

He said: “A staggering 1,800 people lost their lives on British roads last year and speeding is a factor in thousands of crashes.

“Speed cameras are a proven, cost-effective way of reducing deadly collisions.

“Better law enforcement is one of the most important ways to help reverse the recent rise in needless road deaths across the country.”

Gwent Police said they would not comment on the FOI figures.