Big Brother is getting bigger!

 

Town councillors are being asked tonight (Wednesday) to consider a proposal to switch the hub from its current location at the Royal Oak at a cost of £14,500, with trained volunteers monitoring the screens at ad hoc times.

 

The system has recently been upgraded and will become a major tool in the fight against anti-social behaviour as well as a deterrent against criminals with Puzzle Square, Maesydre and the Town Hall Market Hall all now included within its watch.

 

There will even be a provision for a camera to keep an eye on the entrance to the Town Hall toilets after recent incidents when excrement was smeared up the walls of the ladies’.

 

“The CCTV system is a valuable part of the town’s security and it can also be used for monitoring traffic and cutting our parking offences,” said Town Clerk Robert Robinson. “It currently operates 17 cameras and we are looking to extend it to more.”

 

The CCTV outside the Co-op will be switched back on soon after being disabled during the one-way works while another camera will be moved to the entrance of Oldford from Leighton View.

 

Mr Robinson reiterated the council’s wish to create a rogues’ gallery in the local media each month and said it would move ahead with printing images on its own web site and newsletter.

 

He explained that the system would be monitored by two people at different times of the day but added that cameras operate 24 hours a day and can be used to help solve crimes through its archiving capability.