£40,000 pledge to help install new CCTV cameras in Market Drayton
New CCTV cameras will be installed to monitor Market Drayton town centre after councillors pledged to invest £40,000.
Funding from Market Drayton Town Council will be used over the next two years to upgrade the town's surveillance system.
There are currently nine cameras in the town and councillors are hoping to increase that number to around 30.
At a meeting of Market Drayton Town Council's service and facilities committee on Thursday, councillor Roger Hughes said: "We have got a substantial sum of money in the budget for new CTTV equipment.
"Phase one will start this year and we have about £20,000 set aside for that.
"Next year we will start phase two with around the same sort of money.
"We could come in under budget. We will get a mobile camera as well.
"We will only put CCTV in areas where we have problems."
After the meeting Julie Jones, town clerk, said: "We currently have nine CCTV cameras which need upgrading.
"In phase one we are hoping to get nine to 12 new cameras around the town hall and library area.
"Then if we are happy with that system and all is working well we will start phase two.
"Phase two will be another 20 cameras spread out through the town.
"This will all be monitored from a room in the town hall.
"It will be a new state of the art system. The old cameras will come down and be replaced."
Councillor Roy Aldcroft, mayor of Market Drayton, welcomed the upgrade.
He added: "We are looking to assist the police by replacing cameras with the most up to date modern technology.
"We are working to protect town council assets such as playgrounds.
"We also want to provide cover for the retail outlets in the town to ensure a safer environment in both day and night.
"This is all part of a timed programme and replacement.
"It will give a more secure town centre with better quality pictures."
Also discussed at the meeting was a complaint the council had lodged with police after CCTV equipment in the town was removed by police without the knowledge of councillors.
Councillor Roger Hughes said: "I have met with the inspector for Market Drayton twice and he apologised with what happened with the CCTV.
"I was very impressed and we have made a lot of progress – even though we still do not know why it happened."
