Welcome to GWA Cars and Finance, GWA Cars & Finance is an independent company specialising in the sale and financing of new and used cars and vans in Chichester, West Sussex and the UK.

Speed cameras are back in the news. It seems an age since I was reading about county councils in Oxford, Swindon, etc. shutting down the yellow boxes on the grounds of costs, but it seems that as many as one hundred deactivated cameras could be switched on again in 2011, with speeding drivers footing the bill.

Police and councils are discussing a plan to use the money raised by speed awareness courses to finance the return of the cameras. The new system would see the cost of these courses rise from £60-£80 to £100, while income would be increased by raising the limit at which drivers are offered the course, from 10% plus 6mph to 10% plus 9mph.

I’m not sure I’m in favour of this particular means of reintroducing speed cameras. Not really what the big society needs just now: another tax of sorts. I appreciate the argument that they help make the roads safer, but the new system of financing seems ill timed to say the least. And anyway, are they the best way to catch bad drivers? Surely some old-fashioned traffic policing would do better.

I say this because having read a recent article on the types of illegal behaviour on British roads (using a mobile and no MOT/tax/licence came out on top, but the list also included too-heavily tinted windows), I get the impression that physical checks of vehicles are more effective at identifying and stopping bad drivers than cameras would ever be.

Anyway, I have some more exciting news as well: we’ve got a great deal on this previously cherished BMW 530D M Sport: available for just £16,995. Also, check out this used VW Passat SEL TDi DSG Estate for only £11,495. Remember, there’s no VAT to pay on these cars.

To have a chat about buying or leasing a new or used car or van, contact Gary at GWA Cars & Finance on 01243 510 650 or sales@gwacars.com.