CCTV set to return to 24 hour monitoring

Buy photos » Stratford looks set to get a 24 hour CCTV service again (s)

CCTV in the town looks set to return to 24 hour monitoring thanks to a new arrangment.

The decision by Stratford District Council bosses to cut the hours of monitoring of the 87 cameras in the district substantially to save £100,000 received harsh criticism from concerned residents and business owners last year - particularly in the face of reduced policing.

But at a meeting of the council's cabinet, on Monday (January 16), it was revealed officers have been working with town and parish councils in a bid to reinstate a 24/7 monitoring service - which would cost £52,000 on top of the £190,000 the district council now pays towards it.

The likes of Stratford Town Council and Bidford Parish Council have already contributed £33,000 of this and during the meeting the district council's technical services chief, Coun Mike Brain, revealed Stratford Town Trust had agreed in principle to pay the remaining £19,000.

He also revealed Warwickshire Police would not contribute to the cost because of 'budgetary constraints'.

Coun Brain said: "The district council can no longer afford to monitor, maintain and run the district’s CCTV operation 24/7, although we still have been recording full time with monitoring at crucial times.

"Officers and I have been working with a number of partners and interested parties to find a suitable solution.

"Residents, business and visitors alike all benefit from the CCTV cameras, they are a valuable community safety resource that provides peace of mind and reassurance and it is only right that partners contribute to this service.

"CCTV provides useful evidence to enforcement agencies and is an integral part of our public safety provision.

"We are almost there and need to find an additional £20,000 in order to restore the full time monitoring."