The network of cameras helps keep a watchful eye on the
streets around the town centre.
But the ageing system has become increasingly unreliable and
is said to be badly in need of an upgrade.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Town Clerk Gareth Thomas
told members two of the cameras had completely broken down while others were
faulty – one due to interference from a third party wi-fi system – and another
was “on the cusp” of a breakdown.
Mr Thomas revealed that the entire system had failed
completely the previous Friday due to a software problem, leaving the town
temporarily without its eye-in-the-sky protection until an emergency repair was
made.
He said the system’s existing provider had quoted a figure
of £8,000 to get the system up and running with an additional figure to upgrade
it to a more modern standard. Quotations from other companies had been higher.
He told members: “I suggest we move forward with the current
provider to upgrade the system. I am confident that if we go down that road we
will have a system that will monitor the town.”
Mr Thomas pointed out that the total cost of an upgrade
would be £500 to £600 more than had originally been budgeted for and suggested
this amount should be taken from reserves.
He also suggested next year’s budget should make provision
for adding “a couple more cameras” to the system.
Cllr Phil Thane asked about the initial cost of installing
the cameras some years ago and what benefits the system had brought.
Mr Thomas said he believed it had originally cost around
£56,000 but that only the police could say exactly how effective it had been.
However, he added: “The police say it has been a very good
deterrent.”
Last year’s mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, said the cameras had
initially helped cut down on an anti-social behaviour problem and that the
council was still committed to the original expenditure it had made on the
system.
Members agreed to take a small amount of cash from reserves
to help pay for the repair and upgrade of the system.
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