WESTBURY Town Council is looking at replacing the town’s current CCTV systems in a bid to limit anti-social behaviour in the town centre and green spaces.
Councillors, who described the system as ‘outdated’ at a meeting of the finance committee of Westbury Town Council in December, hope the upgraded system will make the town safer and better assist insurance companies and the police.
The new cameras will have updated technology such as automatic number-plate recognition and face recognition technology.
Mayor cllr Sheila Kimmins said, “There is an increase in insurance companies asking for footage, but unfortunately the system we have currently isn’t clear enough to make out details. They are currently offering over £100 for footage, so it would actually add to the council’s income.
“This is a great deal of money we’re talking about to replace the CCTV, but it is a lot less than was originally paid.”
12 CCTV cameras are currently operating in the town, and the cost to upgrade these could cost £68,000, which could be installed by 2023. The cost could rise to £72,000 if the council decides to install a CCTV camera in the Penleigh area.
Westbury Town Council says that it is “impossible” to keep the current system working, due to the rising costs of replacement parts. Westbury’s CCTV currently operates out of Warminster Town Council’s control room and uses a BT Redcare system. An upgrade to CCTV would see the Redcare system made redundant, saving the council money, and allowing the relocation of the site to Warminster’s library due to the new systems being smaller in size.
Deborah Urch, Town Clerk, said, “The system has been in place since 2001 and the cameras are no longer fit for use. So, in agreement with Westbury Town Council as partners, Warminster Town Council undertook a survey report of the CCTV system and are recommending an upgrade so the CCTV can operate more flexibly, but would also mean we no longer need the BT Redcare system that we currently pay £15,000 per year for.”
