Councillor brands CCTV project in Shropshire town 'a catastrophe'

A councillor has labelled a CCTV project in a Shropshire town as “a catastrophe.”

A town-wide system was introduced in Ludlow in 2003, and was maintained by Ludlow Town Council (LTC) and West Mercia Police (WMP) respectively.

There were eight cameras in the town centre, using radio/Wi-Fi links.

However, it produced poor image quality and limited coverage, with the technology deemed “outdated”.

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Between 2018 and 2019,  LTC chose to fully replace the system, with ORP being awarded the contract. A report by the town clerk, Gina Wilding, said that the firm’s costs (including VAT) were £29,856 for phase one and £30,848.40 for phase two.

The first phase (which was funded by the West Mercia Police Commissioner and other organisations, as well as LTC) was installed in 2020. It featured eight town centre cameras in Station Drive, the Upper Galdeford junction, Tower Street, Bull Ring, King Street, Broad Street, Castle Square, and Event Square.

ORP was paid for phase two on March 17, 2021, however work didn’t start until between 2023 and 2024. Advanced surveillance technology was introduced, with cameras being in Station Drive (near Aldi), Corve Street, Whitbread Road, Bromfield Road, Henley Road, Sheet Road, Lower Broad Street, and Event Square.

However, several cameras have had reported faults, with dirty lenses and signal issues causing no images or poor quality.

The report adds that the current contractor only provides “ad-hoc” repairs, and the council plans to introduce a formal maintenance contract. This includes fault call-outs within five working days, labour and repair costs included, only system support, and monthly image quality checks.

Councillor James Hepworth called the situation “a catastrophe” and “a shambles”.

“The CCTV is in incredibly important thing for Ludlow, and I think we all agree the system has been very unsatisfactory up to now,” he said.

“From the information we’ve been given, it appears that £50,000 plus has been spent, and payment for phase two was in 2021.

“But in 2025, we were still trying to have to sort out this catastrophe, which really is what I think it is. What I would like to do is to propose that we set up a task and finish group to look into this.

“I think we need to dig into this because I don’t know how much it’s going to cost to get it all repaired. I have a horrible feeling we’re in for another £20,000 or £30,000 and don’t think anybody here wants to see the shambles that has taken place over the last five or six years happen again.”

Councillor Hepworth’s proposal – which was approved – was for a task and finish group to investigate in detail and management of the CCTV project and the performance of the system, from 2018 to the present day.

This will include the group being given full access to all documentation, including specifications, contracts, and tender documents, for phases one and two, as well as the work done and related payments to the contractor.

Councillor Hepworth also wants all documentation and correspondence provided related to the WMP grant, and all communication between ORP and LTC regarding the installation and funding of the system – including the timing of delivery and the problems of the non-functioning cameras.

A full explanation must be given for the reasons “for the extensive and unacceptable delivery of this project”,” added Councillor Hepworth.

“I had no idea, why in 2021, ORP were paid for the entire phase two before they even started work,” he said.

“It doesn’t make any sense at all.”