Campaigners have not given up hope of having a speed camera installed on a dual carriageway that has been likened to a "race track".

More than 350 people signed a petition calling for at least one camera to be put on the A405 near Woodside Leisure Park.

The petition said speeding and accidents occur on the 40mph stretch of road and it was launched just days after a schoolboy was seriously injured after he was hit by a car last October.

However, Hertfordshire County Council has now responded to the petition and said this road does not fall within its "hazardous sites list", with the council reporting just a single personal injury collision in the last year.

Watford Observer: There is hope of having a speed camera installed along this section of the A405 between Woodside Leisure Centre and Horseshoe Lane. Credit: Google MapsThere is hope of having a speed camera installed along this section of the A405 between Woodside Leisure Centre and Horseshoe Lane. Credit: Google Maps

The response added: "As we do not have limitless core funding, we must, as agreed and endorsed by our elected representatives, direct our resources to those areas where our work has the greatest potential to reduce the number of collisions, deaths and injuries on our network."

The council said it had undertaken work to reduce part of the A405 down to 40mph from 50mph and had carried out junction improvements and put in extra signage.

Watford Observer: Local Lib Dem councillors Simon Feldman, left, and Tim Williams who want to see speed cameras on the A405Local Lib Dem councillors Simon Feldman, left, and Tim Williams who want to see speed cameras on the A405

Although attempts to secure funding from the council have not been successful, Woodside county councillor Tim Williams is hopeful the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Hertfordshire may be able to help.

Cllr Williams, who says some drivers travel over 70mph on this part of the A405, said: "We are after at least one permanent speed camera and we put in a bid for a grant from the PCC last year which we hope to hear about soon.

"We were extremely disappointed by the council's decision but that has been the position for a good few decades.

"It's a setback but we watch this space and we live in hope."

The Liberal Democrat politician has concerns about the entire stretch between the A41 and Garston but he would really like to see a camera installed just after the leisure park in the direction of Horseshoe Lane, adding he is aware of three serious collisions involving schoolchildren on that 40mph stretch in the last three years.

In the meantime, a road safety van has been visiting the A405 but it does not have the power to issue fines to drivers caught speeding.