Grants rescue Devizes CCTV network

The eight-camera scheme, launched in 2007, has run up against a serious cash-flow problem and last month the area board was told that if no more money was forthcoming in very short time, it would have to be put into storage.

The Devizes Development Partnership, which runs the system, said it needed £13,200 to keep the system going and reinstate the camera at Brewery Corner.

To help provide this sum it asked the Devizes Area Board for £5,000 and the town council for £6,000.

On Monday the area board agreed to the grant request.

Coun Richard Gamble, a member of DDP’s management committee, told the meeting: “Last month we had a unanimous vote to retain the CCTV system in the town. We are now asking councillors to put their money where their mouths are.”

In fact, of the five Wiltshire councillors at the meeting, Coun Gamble and Coun Nigel Carter, left the room during the discussion and vote as they are both on the DDP board.

Coun Jane Burton abstained as she is also a town councillor, leaving only Couns Lionel Grundy and Philip Brown to vote in favour of the £5,000 grant.

The following night town councillors discussed the DDP’s request for £6,000. However, they decided they would only approve to match the £5,000 agreed by the area board.

Coun Peter Evans told the meeting of the town council’s community and civic resources committee: “We have always done this kind of thing on a match-funding basis, so the town council should only match the money being given by county.”

DDP treasurer John Gaca said it would be able to fund the difference from its own resources.

Noel Woolrych, the town’s CCTV manager, said: “We are very grateful to the council for saving the system from mothballing and I’m sure the police will be grateful too.”

But the grant will make a big hole in town council finances. Town clerk Sarah Todhunter said that the money was not budgeted for and would have to come from the council’s dwindling reserves.