Wednesday 19 September 2007

RICHMOND: Traders must wait for council CCTV decision

Traders must wait for council CCTV decision

Hampton Hill traders will have to wait months before they find out if CCTV cameras will be installed in the high street.

Last week Richmond upon Thames Council's cabinet agreed to put new CCTV cameras at Hotham House, in Richmond Riverside, and look at installing more around the borough.

Hampton Hill Trader's Association (HHTA), representing the interests of shops in the village, implored the council to install cameras in Hampton Hill High Street to deal with problems of window etching and antisocial behaviour.

Councillor David Williams, Richmond council cabinet member for communities, said Hampton Hill was an area where the council wanted to put cameras but it would take some months.

Philip Rowlands and Jonathan Cox spoke on behalf of HHTA at the meeting on Monday, September 3, and said the area needed the cameras.

Mr Rowlands said: "We need to prevent shop window etching, antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and burglary.

"We are advised by the police we need photographic evidence to catch people."

Mr Cox, who runs the two pharmacies in Hampton Hill, said 22 of the 23 shops in High Street have etched windows and he insisted it would continue unless CCTV was introduced.

HHTA wanted the cameras installed by the end of November when the traditional lighting up and Christmas parade is held in Hampton Hill.

The cabinet were told the provision of more cameras had to be considered when the budget was judged and if money was available cameras should be placed at the junction of Park Road and High Street in Hampton Hill but cameras could be placed at Hotham House and in York Street, Twickenham, soon as money had already been assigned.

Officers estimate to put cameras in Hampton Hill, as well as other proposed locations in Teddington and East Sheen and improving the CCTV service, would cost more than £800,000 over three years.

Coun Williams said: "One of the places we plan to install cameras is Hampton Hill but we have not decided exactly where they will go.

"We have to consult with local councillors, traders and the police but we propose four cameras to cover the area, two facing in each direction.

"The consultation to make sure we are doing this properly does take some months.

"We agree there is a need but it will take some months to get this in place, it won't be in place by November."

http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1690640.0.traders_must_wait_for_council_cctv_decision.php

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