A planned £14,000 upgrade of Ludlow’s CCTV system, which police say will help them catch more criminals, has been delayed – after it was revealed taxpayers would have to foot the bill for it.

Town councillors had agreed to a request to transfer monitoring of the town’s CCTV systems from Ludlow Police Station to Shrewsbury, where it would be watched around the clock.

The cameras are not currently monitored, and footage is only used by police after an offence has been committed to look for evidence.

Police claimed the move could prevent crimes being committed, while the better equipment in Shrewsbury would also produce clearer pictures and make it easier to zoom in on potential criminals.

But mayor John Aitken said councillors had learned the move would need £13,725 in start-up costs and £2,000 annual maintenance bills to be paid by the town council – representing a more than five per cent rise in the parish precept.

Mr Aitken told councillors last night: “Police wanted us to relocate where the CCTV is monitored over to Shrewsbury, which sounded good, but we didn’t know about the cost issue.”

Some councillors were concerned about the rising cost and it was agreed members should tour the Shrewsbury CCTV centre before making a final decision. Time will also be set aside for a more lengthy debate about the issue.

Town clerk Veronica Cal- derbank added: “The move is being called for as the current situation is that they are not monitored in real ti- me and are only consulted when something happens, in which case the police will look back at them. We agre- ed to go along with their pl- ans to move the monitoring to a head office in Shrewsbury, but unfortunately the police didn’t tell us that we would have to pay.”

But Councillor Vivienne Parry said: “The idea to move to Shrewsbury is very good as I have been told that half the people on the screens here in Ludlow can’t even be seen.” The recommendation to move the cameras came jointly from Shropshire Council and West Mercia Police.

By Danny Carden