Shropshire Star

20 new CCTV cameras on way to Market Drayton to tackle crime

A further 20 new CCTV cameras could be installed in Market Drayton to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

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Market Drayton Town Council has agreed to install further cameras in the town after the success of others being put up in the area.

A council working group will now meet to discuss suitable locations for the new cameras.

Two cameras costing about £3,000 are to be installed to cover the public toilets and skate park in Newport Road.

It comes after extensive graffiti was found in the men's toilets in the last few weeks.

The council recently revealed it may have to delay construction of a new skate park on the site of the existing one until new CCTV cameras are installed in the area.

Julie Jones, clerk to the town council, said: "We are up and running with the first phase and have been happy with the pictures so we have agreed to move on to the second phase.

"We have already got a unit so we can put more cameras in the town. We have got 12 so far and we could possibly have another 20.

"Our working group will decide where the others ones could go."

Meanwhile, work has been completed to spruce up the vandal-hit toilets in Newport Road.

Gwyn Jones, from HMP Stoke Heath, has been painting and decorating the toilets, which had to be closed following the discovery of extensive graffiti recently.

Mrs Jones said: "The toilets are looking nice and clean. He has done a very good job.

"We have agreed to remove the outside walls and the corridor into the toilets, and remove shrubs and bushes to make it more open.

"The hope is if they look better then people will treat them better."

The town council is also progressing with plans to replace the public toilets at the town hall in Frogmore Road.

It is looking to have a new standalone toilet block installed adjacent to the town hall.

"The council has agreed to look at a new unit in the car park which will hopefully take up just two parking spaces.

"We have agreed it in principle with Shropshire Council. We have looked at several designs and we will now be looking at more in-depth designs.

"We have been talking about it for some time so we are keen to get it sorted as quick as we can.

"There are no time frames for it. When things cost a lot of money a lot of thought goes into it," Mrs Jones added.

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