CCTV in Cirencester

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Jul 2009

Commenting on the Cotswold District Council press release earlier this week about the new contract for CCTV monitoring, LibDem spokesperson Maggie Edney said

"I'm sure everyone will be relieved to hear that after such a long delay by the Tory administration at CDC, a CCTV monitoring service will be up and running again soon. In the gap between contracts, Cirencester has been the scene of some nasty incidents, and the public need to be reassured that as much as possible is been done to provide evidence to bring wrong-doers to justice, and deter others."

Last week, the Liberal Democrats on Cotswold District Council had reacted swiftly to the latest attack on the streets of Cirencester. An incident occurred in the Market Place on 26 June which had left a man of 25 from Bibury in a critical condition.

Margaret Edney (Stratton/Whiteway), Shadow Spokesperson for public protection on the District Council had commented:

"Firstly, I'm so saddened at the news that a man has been injured during a violent incident in the Market Place last week. The event really brings home the fact that CCTV surveillance can be vital in determining just what happened at the time. The Tory cabinet at CDC has been really sleeping on the job in not sorting out the CCTV contract earlier. Even now, we can't be sure that the right monitoring is being done, yet the alleged attack took place right by the cameras. The public in Cirencester need to be reassured that CDC and the police are making public safety a priority in the district."

Deryck Nash (Chesterton), Leader of the Opposition on CDC, was Mayor of Cirencester and led the fund raising appeal when the CCTV scheme was launched in 1996. He was incensed at the latest chapter in the Cirencester CCTV saga:

"This regrettable incident is only the latest of six that have occurred in the last few weeks that I am aware of. The delays to the CCTV contract are inexcusable and should have been sorted out months ago. But the police, even with the help of CCTV, can only do so much. It is the responsibility of every one of us to ensure that a small minority are not allowed to spoil the town for everyone else. Councils, police, schools, parents and the community as a whole must act to ensure that our town remains a safe and pleasant place in which to live."