LITTLEPORT: Council Installs CCTV at Play Park To Deal Wtih Vandalism
VANDALS have forced a parish council to install CCTV in a children s play area. Councillors in Littleport voted unanimously to put up the cameras at the Parsons Lane play area after equipment worth tens of thousands of pounds was damaged. Lynda Clarke-Jon
VANDALS have forced a parish council to install CCTV in a children's play area.
Councillors in Littleport voted unanimously to put up the cameras at the Parsons Lane play area after equipment worth tens of thousands of pounds was damaged.
Lynda Clarke-Jones, clerk to the parish council, said it was a "shame".
"The cameras have been ordered and I have just sent a letter to the security company confirming we have permission of the property owner to install them," she said.
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"The equipment that was damaged cost �35,000 a few years ago. We have now got some new, additional equipment through the Government's Pathfinder Scheme, which cost �40,000 and the last thing we want is to see it damaged by the few people who think it is ok to do that sort of thing. It is a shame that we have had to do this, but hopefully, the cameras will act as a deterrent."
She explained that although the cameras will record 24 hours a day, they will not be regularly watched by the council.
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Mrs Clarke-Jones assured any parents concerned about their children being filmed: "It will not be a case of someone sitting here everyday, 'ogling' children."
Footage of any criminal damage being carried out will be handed to the police to be used as evidence.
A final cost for the project has yet to be confirmed.
However, Mrs Clarke-Jones said: "The parish council has a budget for CCTV systems but there are several budgets we can take the cost from, such as the one for play areas."
She added: "The children absolutely love the new equipment. I had a meeting at the park recently and when the children came out of the school they ran straight to the play area. It was full of children and a great thing to see.
