Tetbury traders call for CCTV scheme in town centre to cut crime. (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tetbury traders call for CCTV scheme in town centre to cut crime.

THERE is an urgent need for CCTV equipment in Tetbury town centre after businesses were targeted in recent attacks, said traders.

Worried trader Brian Edge, who owns a tea shop, cited the burglary at the new Sporting Gallery and Somerfields, as the latest examples of rising crime in the town.

"We desperately need CCTV in the town centre now. We are paying for police protection but do not seem to be getting any. There is no balance at all. We are sitting targets."

Mr Edge, who is also a town councillor, said traders had approached him with their concerns about crime.

He said the town council was investigating installing CCTV at the Rail Yard car Park, because people were afraid to park their cars there, but some locals saw a bigger need for the equipment in the town centre.

But the police have hit back at the claims about rising crime and lack of policing.

Police spokesman Steve Partridge said whilst crime is distressing it is important to keep things in perspective.

"Tetbury is a safe place and the crime rate has decreased in the last three months. "For every 1,000 people living in the area there were less than two assaults in the town, less than two house burglaries, less than three cases of vandalism and no robberies.

"Tetbury has three officers, including a sergeant, based at the police station in the town and it has also covered by emergency response units and traffic police from Cirencester.

"The area is further patrolled by South Cotswold Rural Beat Officer PC George Lager and Tetbury receives visits from Gloucestershire mobile police station."

Traders in Church Street disagree. Police in the town are doing a good job, they say, but crime is rising because the police are undermanned.

Mark Wallington, who owns the Twelve Bells Gallery, said: "Traders are alarmed by the number of crime incidents in the town."

Cotswold District Council seemed to be dragging its feet over the town council's CCTV scheme and if something was not arranged soon, traders would consider installing the equipment themselves, he said.

When the window was smashed and goods stolen from the New Sporting Gallery, there were many witnesses and the thieves were unmasked, he added.

"Crime certainly isn't going down in the town, it's going up. People just aren't reporting it. "Tetbury Town Council should be commended for its hard work in trying to set up a scheme. If it does not happen, we will consider looking at the financial implications ourselves."

Rodger Williams, Tetbury Town Council administrator, said negotiations with CDC for CCTV equipment to cover the Rail Yard Car Park area and The Green were still ongoing.