Archive - Tuesday, 25 May 2004


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Row looms over CCTV costs

CHEPSTOW town councillors are bracing themselves for a row with police when they are asked to pay the annual bill for an "ineffective" CCTV scheme.

Inspector Bob Worrell is attending tonight's (Wed) town council meeting to deliver a report on how six CCTV cameras have aided the police in Chepstow in the scheme's first year.

But the council is reluctant to pay its share of the annual bill, £11,500, because members feel the cameras haven't achieved enough results in the capture and identification of vandals and criminals.

Councillor and former mayor Armand Watts said: "The project hasn't worked and has been problematic from the beginning. The council is very disaapointed in the performance of these cameras and require assurances that things will come good.

"Though some of us were sceptical at first, we have fully supported the CCTV scheme and want to assist in creating a safe environment in the town - but we won't pay for something we're not satisfied with."

Town council clerk Sandra Bushell said: "The six cameras in town were supposed to be fully operational by April 1 last year but we know they weren't.

"We asked when it did finally get going and have not had a clear answer and according to the agreement we made, we are entitled to a refund for any period of time when the cameras weren't functioning properly, but we haven't had a full report on that either.

"One of the cameras down by the bus station near Somerfield failed to capture vandals ripping the seats up at a bus stop. There are many examples we are unhappy about."

Inspector Worrall will tell members that CCTV has assisted with much policework in the town.

He said: "In April an assault was reported in the Bulwark shopping area and a suspect we interviewed denied involvement.

"As a result of CCTV footage which corroborated the victim's story, an arrest was made. This is an example of how important it is for us to work with CCTV and discussion is taking place at all levels to improve this interaction."