NORTH East Cambs MP Steve Barclay has been awarded a Road Safety Parliamentarian of the Month Award.

He’s been given it by national charity Brake and Direct Line for his successful campaign to reactivate a speed camera and install signs to prevent further casualties on a stretch of the A47.

“Steve has also secured progress on a second campaign to install a barrier between a waterway and stretch of road in his constituency where a young girl was killed,” said a Brake spokesman.

He said in April 2011, after nine crashes in three years and five deaths in six years, the MP launched a campaign with local residents and Councillor John Fish calling for a speed camera to be reactivated and warning signs installed.

“The Highways Agency agreed to install the signs, but said the �30,000 cost would have to be met by the parish council because the number of crashes on the road did not meet their stipulated level.

“At this point they declined to switch the speed camera back on.

Steve then wrote to road safety minister Mike Penning MP to say how disappointed he was that the Highways Agency had not agreed to pay for the signs or reactive the camera.

The MP was also praised by Brake for getting road safety minister Mike Penning to visit the waterway adjacent to Bedlam Bridge near to where 9 year old Charlotte Walker was tragically killed.

Mr Barclay said he was “honoured” to receive the award and said it was pleasing to see the community working together to have a minister act on their concerns.