CCTV campaign ends in triumph (From Chard & Ilminster News)
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CCTV campaign ends in triumph
9:06am Friday 2nd June 2006 in News By Laura Thorpe
CHARD'S first CCTV camera for the entire town centre is up with the help from dedicated helpers and fundraisers. Pictured are Chard Mayor John Malcolm, Lesley Derbyshire, Sgt Andy Kingston, and News chief reporter Alex Cameron.
CHARD has its first town centre CCTV camera up and running following two years of campaigning and fund-raising by dedicated members of the community.
Back in September 2004, The News launched it's 'Keeping an Eye on Chard' campaign with support from Derbyshire's Estate Agents, who pledged £1,000 to kick-start the campaign.
With continued hard work and persistence from Chard town councillor Martin Wale, a fully functioning 360 degree camera is now watching Chard town centre, helping to prevent anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Wale said: "I hope this is just the start of a complete system for Chard.
"Now, I will try to persuade the right people to put various grants in to have a system to protect the rest of the town."
Lesley Derbyshire has backed the campaign right from the start and said she was absolutely delighted with the result, adding: "It has taken a long time but now I am looking forward to all the other cameras going up."
News chief reporter Alex Cameron said: "We're proud to be part of this. We have supported this campaign from the word go and we believe CCTV will be a useful tool for deterring and catching criminals.
"We hope this is only the start and that more cameras will be hooked up to this system."
And Chard town Mayor John Malcolm added: "I think a combination of things, like CCTV and the Community Justice Panel, has made Chard become a much safer place to be and I think we are really moving forward."
