Council to challenge over CCTV bracket ruling (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cricklade Town Council to challenge over CCTV bracket ruling

12:37pm Tuesday 21st April 2009 in News By Andy Woolfoot

THE organisers of the CCTV project in Cricklade will challenge a decision made by a council planning officer who ruled a specialist bracket costing £2,000 must be fitted to a listed building.

Cricklade Town Council heard at a meeting this week that the special bracket, which a planning officer ruled must be fitted to the side of the grade II listed Vale Hotel, High Street, would reduce the view of the camera.

The bracket would add £2,000 onto the bill for this camera alone, which contractors estimate will cost £4,000 to install.

CTC is working alongside the Cricklade Business Association on the plans which will see five cameras installed at strategic points around the town in a bid to reduce antisocial behaviour such as vandalism and graffiti.

Bob Jones, chairman of the CBA, said at the meeting: "The bracket which the officer recommended is not fit for purpose. We will lose 50 percent of the view of the camera.

"It is a 50 percent cost increase for a piece of equipment that is not fit for purpose."

Cricklade’s Wiltshire Council representative Helen Dixon will call in the application so it is determined by the council’s planning committee at a future meeting.