COUNCILLORS have agreed that improved “spy in the sky” CCTV cameras must be maintained in Wellington in order to help police in their ongoing battle against crime.

There were fears that cash-strapped Somerset Council – which has been responsible for the cameras – was going to pull the plug on them because of the financial emergency it plunged into last year.

But the county authority had said that it would keep the CCTV cameras working – if there were funds coming forward from Wellington Town Council.

The police have consistently said to town councillors in recent months that a good CCTV system was a crucial tool in its work.

And Sgt Jon O’Connor, of Wellington Police, repeated that belief when meeting with town councillors at their monthly meeting on Monday (April 8).

“CCTV is critical for us to use in events which are happening real-time or retrospectively,” he said. “The better the quality of the picture the better it is for us in being able to secure convictions.

“If we had an infinite amount of money I’d like to see as many CCTV cameras as possible.”

He told councillors that poor quality cameras led to “grainy and pixelated” pictures, while sometimes a spider could take up residency on the CCTV and the “camera focuses on that which makes it next to useless.”

Councillors were quick to support the proposal that the town council funded the six CCTV cameras in Wellington.

Cllr Janet Lloyd said: “We hear every month how important the CCTV is to the police.”

A report from town clerk Dave Farrow said: “During discussions with Somerset Council officers, we were advised that two cameras are currently non-operational and that, subject to the town council agreeing to continue with the service, these would be replaced with updated digital cameras at no cost to the town council as soon as possible in the new year.

“The council had previously considered upgrading the CCTV provision in the town from analogue to digital in 2022, but at the time decided not to progress that because of the cost.

“However, now that Somerset Council has agreed to upgrade two f the cameras at no cost to the town council, it may wish to consider looking again upgrading the remaining four cameras.”

Councillors agreed that it made complete sense for all of the town’s CCTV cameras to be upgraded from analogue to digital at a cost of £3,000 per camera.

The Mayor, Cllr Marcus Barr, said: “I propose that we do all six in one go – it’s done and dusted then.”

Cllr Ross Henley added: “It seems absurd if we had some good quality cameras and some not so good.”

And Cllr Chris Booth said: “We need high quality cameras in the town.”

They also agreed to enter a three-year agreement with Somerset Council for the funding of the cameras at £16,800 per annum.

Although councillors were supportive there were questions raised about the costs and so the matter would be clarified at the council’s policy and resources committee on April 17.