Expansion on cards for Oswestry's new CCTV
The new CCTV system being installed in Oswestry town centre could be rolled out to other areas, bringing the town extra cash and eventually making the cameras pay for themselves.
Gobowen has already agreed to sign up for cameras, and Oswestry Town Council, which is spearheading the project, hopes more contracts will follow, whether from local authorities or businesses.
This week Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council said it would be installing the cameras in the village centre and by the railway station.
Outgoing chairman Councillor Percy Cherrington said: "We are looking forward to bringing in the new cameras to help prevent anti-social behaviour and crime in Gobowen."
The original CCTV system was installed in Oswestry in 2000, with the town council providing the capital and sharing the running costs with Oswestry Borough Council, then Shropshire Council.
Councillor John Gareth Jones said: "In 1999, when I was mayor, the council had decided to take the lead and to be the driving force to bring CCTV into Oswestry. In 2014 we have just secured a grant of £68,000 from Shropshire Council, through the Police and Crime Commissioner, to replace that 1999 system.
"In 1999 we talked about CCTV. Our concern at that time was its funding and sustainability and we are indebted to the group of volunteers that have provided a wonderful service in monitoring our CCTV over the last 15 years.
"Hopefully the new contract will be let in the next few weeks and we are looking at providing a monitoring service to other local councils and the business community."
