A new, improved CCTV system for South Holland could be operational by the end of this month.
Spalding, Holbeach and Crowland will benefit from the £108,475 system, which will provide clearer images, better coverage and be monitored 24/7.
However, two towns currently monitored – Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge – will not be covered by the new wireless system. As yet both parish councils have declined to join the network but could do so at a later date.
The new camera network will comprise:
17 in Spalding
4 or 5 in Holbeach
3 in Crowland
The uncertainty over the number of cameras in Holbeach surrounds affordability for the parish council, which has had to make savings in its budget. However, the district council is continuing to try and help a commitment to five.
No dates for installation have been finalised, but it’s expected to be before the end of February. The system will then go live very soon afterwards.
Coun Nick Worth, deputy leader of South Holland District Council and portfolio holder for community, said: “I think it’s a positive thing to do. It will improve people’s perception of safety.
“The new cameras offer more flexibility in the way they can be used and will be monitored by a member of staff at all times.”
And Spalding community policing inspector Jim Tyner said: “I welcome this news. CCTV is an invaluable tool for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
“Our current CCTV system is staffed by some fantastic volunteers and they produce some excellent results but the new system will bring significant improvements.”
Rigorous testing of a variety of systems has been completed and the district council is confident that its final selection will improve the public’s perception of safety and act as a deterrent to anti-social behaviour for many years to come.
Long Sutton Parish Council has been disappointed with images from incidents with the current system, but will debate joining the new network again.
For Sutton Bridge Parish Council, the sticking point is response times to incidents.
Chairman Coun John Grimwood visited the CCTV suite at Boston Borough Council (which monitors South Holland cameras too) and was impressed with the clarity and police responses.
“As soon as something happens, they are on to it,” he said. “But the problem with Sutton Bridge is they can’t guarantee us a response time.”
The district council said: “We are continuing our work with Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge on their involvement in the new CCTV scheme. An announcement will be made once that work is complete and, as we are yet to reach that stage, further information is not available.”
It had been hoped that the upgraded system would be in place by late last summer, but testing has taken longer than anticipated.
The district council has worked with parish councils and local police teams to agree the best siting for the cameras. They will cover similar locations to the existing scheme, with a wider reach and easier access for maintenance work.
Funding for the scheme has been assisted by grants from the office of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner (£56,000) and Lincolnshire County Council (£18,000). Monitoring costs for the current number of cameras will be a maximum of £32,000 per year.
The current system has been in place since 2007.
