Residents and visitors in Watchet can now feel even safer thanks to a new CCTV system that has been installed in the town.
Conservative-led West Somerset Council and Watchet Town Council have been working in partnership to deliver 13 new public space surveillance cameras in key locations in town.
This follows a public consultation exercise which revealed that 90% of residents who responded supported the proposal and were prepared to pay towards the upkeep of the camera system. The views of the public, together with the Police, were a key factor in determining the location of the cameras.
Images captured by the cameras are relayed, via wireless links, to the CCTV control room at the Police Station in Minehead.
A spokesman for West Somerset Council said it was pleasing the two Councils had collaborated to make the camera system a reality.
“There have been a few previous attempts to install CCTV in Watchet but these have never progressed owing to technical and other difficulties.
“The technology used is ultra-modern and was deployed during the Olympic sailing events in Weymouth in 2012 where it proved to be reliable in a marine environment which has been an issue in the past. We worked with ADT and UK Broadband, who are both leading national companies, to ensure the system was robust and effective and they have delivered on time and on budget.”
The capital cost of the project has been funded with money from the Police and Crime Commissioner and West Somerset Council with the Town Council agreeing to meet the running costs in the future.
Councillor David Westcott, who sits on both the district and town council said: “I am delighted that we have finally been able to provide a CCTV system in the town and that both Watchet and the district councils have collaborated to make this happen.”
The system will be monitored by Police volunteers who already view the cameras in Minehead and Peter is keen for any other local people who have a few hours to spare to come forward to help to make Watchet an even safer place to live and visit.
Loretta Whetlor, the Mayor of Watchet, is also delighted to see the system installed and added: “The safety and security of Watchet residents and visitors alike is paramount to the Town Council and district as a whole and with the cameras in place this is provided for them. It really is pleasing after many years of trying that we now have it in place and, on behalf of Watchet Town Council, I would like to thank all those who were involved.”
She urged anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer to contact the CCTV coordinator on 01823 363521 for more information.