COUNCILLORS are dismayed at the possibility of CCTV coverage in Wellington being reduced when they were about to campaign for it to be increased.

Sgt Dan Bishop, of Wellington Police, said in a report that Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) had recommended that its two CCTV cameras are removed from the town.

“I was asked by the district council to respond if I had any objections,” he said. “I have written and informed the council that the two CCTV cameras assist my team greatly with the policing of Wellington and in keeping our communities safe.”

The news comes as SWT carried out a review of CCTV coverage across Taunton, Wellington, Minehead and Watchet.

“I attended a working group in August and highlighted the importance of all CCTV cameras in Wellington remaining in place,” said Sgt Bishop. “But at the beginning of September I was contacted by the council and informed that its review had led to a recommendation being put forward to remove two of the local authority CCTV cameras in Wellington town centre.

“Removal of either of these cameras would make things more difficult for us and result in an increased risk of members of the public becoming a victim of crime and anti-social behaviour.”

Members of Wellington Town Council were appalled at the news when they met for their monthly meeting last week.

Cllr John Thorne said: “I am disappointed they [SWT] are looking at taking away two of our cameras. I was disappointed that we weren’t told of this review.

“We have been talking about improving CCTV in the town and having more cameras to make our streets safer, and now the SWT wants to go the opposite way!

“We need to make strong representations to SWT about this.”

Sgt Bishop has discussed the issue with Wellington Town Council’s clerk Dave Farrow who has written to SWT in support of the CCTV cameras remaining in place.

The Mayor, Cllr Mark Lithgow, said he and his predecessor, Cllr Janet Lloyd, had also ‘robustly opposed’ any suggestion that Wellington should lose any CCTV cameras.

Mr Farrow told the WWN it was important to make clear that the CCTV was run by the SWT and not the town council.

“Wellington Town Council is absolutely opposed to any reduction in CCTV capacity in the town – in fact, the council would like it enhanced, just as Cllr Thorne said in the meeting,” said Mr Farrow. “The local community police team led by Sgt Dan Bishop is of the same view.

“We will continue to work with SWT to ensure there is no reduction in capacity and will also consider what can be done to improve provision.”