The purchase of a mobile camera to link in with South Holland’s upgraded CCTV system has taken a step closer.
Spalding Town Forum has asked for costings before deciding whether its 12 district councillors would like to contribute from their annual designated members’ budget.
The proposal for a camera which could be moved to “hotspots” for crime and anti-social behaviour was discussed at the forum’s meeting last Wednesday.
Speaking afterwards, chairman Coun George Aley said: “The response from everyone was positive but one thing that wasn’t brought to the meeting was the cost.
“We’ve asked for that to be done as soon as possible and then we’ll look at it again.”
It’s envisaged that the camera would be used in Ayscoughfee Gardens and other occasional problem areas, such as The Vista which regularly suffers from unsavoury behaviour and was the scene of a violent group fight recently.
Coun Aley said the mobile camera’s use would not be confined to Spalding. To that end, district councillors representing other areas might be asked to contribute.
The camera would form part of the £100,000 upgraded CCTV system covering South Holland from late summer. Responsibility for monitoring the images will pass from volunteers based at Spalding Police Station to specialised staff at Boston Borough Council.
Coun Aley added: “The mobile camera would need to link in with what we’re doing at Boston and we’ll need to look at how and when it is moved.
“We’d hope the hotspot areas would be suggested by any combination of the police, the district council and the public.”
Spalding is not parished like other towns in the district. The forum, which untilises Spalding Special Expenses collected via council tax, consists of 12 district councillors and representatives of police, business and other stakeholders.
