A CCTV operator believes he has the answers to fix the safety issues at a large car park in the centre of Devizes.

Station Road car park was given a closure order on August 11 after a series of incidents, including one that left a man with potentially life-changing injuries. 

The car park is set to remain closed for another 11 weeks at night, from 6pm until 6am to prevent antisocial behaviour, following reports that youngsters had been “racing” their cars around the area at night.

READ MORE: Station road car park in Devizes closed for three months

A man who has been managing the CCTV footage in the town says he has been involved with the car park for over 10 years, and believes he has the right solution.

The idea would be to catch offenders in the act, and deter people from breaking the rules by installing cameras at each end of the car park.

Noel Woolrych explained: “I have had a costed solution for several years.

“After several years of conducting covert surveillance and catching several offenders it has now, thanks to recent Government legislation, become much harder to mount covert operations.

“My suggestion is to install two PanoVu cameras one at each end and recorded locally but monitored remotely.

“I have secured the cooperation and agreement of the Wiltshire Ballistics Centre to house the recording equipment and to use their broadband to connect it to our Control Room.

“These units have 3 fixed cameras and 1 Pan Tilt Zoom, effectively giving a 360° view.”

Weighing up other solutions that have been put forward, Mr Woolrych explained that these would only present other challenges.

He added: “Closing the car park at night with barriers would not work.... 24-hour access is needed.

 “People leaving their car to attend late night events would not be able to get out either.

“Automatic barriers were considered to allow vehicles to exit but not enter.

"Unfortunately, these also have a fail safe and could be activated to allow cars to enter.

“Turning off streetlights would not be sensible as it leaves women, or men, vulnerable.”

Another solution the CCTV manager did not feel would be the most effective was the suggestion that there should be more police officers monitoring the area.

Mr Woolyrch added: “Increasing the number of Police Patrols would be an excellent idea.

“However, the reality is that there are not enough Officers available to put this into practice.