A Nantwich Town councillor is bidding to have CCTV coverage of Nantwich Lake after a rise in anti-social behaviour.
Cllr John Priest says a number of incidents have occurred around the lake car park off Shrewbridge Road over the summer.
One resulted in an 18-year-old being badly assaulted by a gang on motorbikes as he sat there with his girlfriend.
Cllr Priest put forward a Notice of Motion at Nantwich Town Council tonight (October 5).
He said he met with Cheshire Police to discuss the problems of anti-social behaviour there.
Cllr Priest added: “They gave me their views and made clear where we could assist them and help to improve the issues around anti-social behaviour.
“The lake car park was discussed and this area is missing CCTV.
“We have a fairly comprehensive CCTV coverage in Nantwich town centre, and I want to see some cover of the lake area because it is a running sore.
“There has been lots of anti-social behaviour, particularly in the summer evenings, it is a persistent issue.”
Town council clerk Samantha Roberts told councillors one alternative is to purchase a mobile CCTV camera for the town which could be placed wherever issues cropped up.
“The mobile camera would cost £2,600 as one-off cost, and £680 for data each month it would provide,” she added.
The town council pays several thousand pounds each year for the current fixed CCTV coverage of the town.
Cllr Priest asked for costs of setting up new fixed cameras compared to a mobile one.
The five town councillors who attended tonight’s meeting agreed to the clerk finding out more costings for extra CCTV cameras before making a decision.
What is the point of CCTV, they just wear huddies, so you can’t identify them anyway, what a silly suggestion
Yet again Nantwich Town Council want to spend tax payers money on projects which do not improve the quality of life for the residents. Having a Police presence periodically may resolve the issue. I suggest residents of Nantwich carry out an analysis of how the precept is spent. A Deputy Town Clerk, a Town Ranger, a Cherry Picker. Some years ago I was told that the Town Council would receive a return on the capital advanced for the Cherry Picker. I would be intrigued to know just how much money they have earned.
Go back in time to the Fountain In Nantwich Lake, yet another example of thoughtless expenditure.
Perhaps paying Cheshire Police for an extra Police Officer for Nantwich may be more beneficial.
At least explore all the potential alternatives.
Why bother, has this idea been a roaring success anywhere else, I am sure there are enough householders with cameras there, what is needed is town security patrols to stamp out this madness, after all it seems to be on certain days and times given reports and only by a few dumb heads as such can’t be that difficult to stop thick yobs
regular police patrols need to be in that area, pointless with cctv as the quality has to be enough to make a positive id, this is just a knee jerk reaction as these feral thugs know there is no police presence, so they think they can cause issues undisturbed, this along with idiots using the roads as race tracks clearly is above local policing, I have no faith in it getting any better, its been like this for over three years now, yobs seem to have taken over, its just as lovely as Crewe now
It will be more tax payers money wasted they cannot monitor or maintain the cameras they already have in the town centre area when asking for footage the excuse is always that that particular camera is out of action due to a breakdown or vandalism the same will happen down at the lake unless they employ a security company to maintain and monitor the cameras on a full time basis
Even with full colour, close up CCTV footage of an attempted burglary by two teens, the Police basically shrugged their shoulders and said there was nothing they could do. What use will this actually be at the lake? Will it really be high enough definition to identify individuals (which it is not in the square)? And as others have said, it’s simply an “after the event – we may catch you” deterent which has been proven time and again not to work.
You need fixed cameras so they are always operational and monitored, a mobile one when issues crop up is bolting the door after the horse has gone. I would even propose that for this, a contributory precept is made on surrounding Town/Parish Councils to contribute as we in Rope visit the Lake. This principle could also apply to helping other local areas resolve problems of this type. Details of support can be included in the Council Tax demands.
A cctv camera is good idea but if the Police can only react to incidents that has already taken place then the camera is only a expensive deterrent, the town square is extensively covered with many cameras yet the police haven’t been able to stop two gangs of feral youths some on push bikes and some on electric bikes, these brats threaten older people verbally, push younger kids off bikes and it they are challenged laugh back usually with foul language, the only thing that will work is a Police presence.