3:01pm Tuesday 12th February 2008
By Lucy Buckland
A NEW and improved CCTV system will be rolling out in Calne next month.
Currently the town has several black spots not covered by cameras and is short of volunteers to man the desk.
Deputy town clerk Daryl Saville-Brown, who rolled out Devizes' CCTV system, spearheaded the new initiative.
The new CCTV system will be based at council offices in Bank House and police will train volunteers on how to use the equipment.
CCTV was rolled in Calne six years ago and the town now has eight cameras.
The CCTV revamp will upgrade the monitoring system to flat screens, will be viewed by police and will link traders through a council launched radio scheme.
Traders will be able to rent radios from the town council for £1 a day linking them to the CCTV system, police and other traders.
Mrs Saville-Brown, who resigned as Devizes town centre manager in November, set the momentum for the Devizes CCTV project and raised just under £60,000 from 39 organisations and businesses.
She said: "The Calne CCTV project, together with a better communication strategy, will enhance the service and benefit the whole community.
"In addition to this a feasibility study will be carried out to ascertain other areas of the town that would benefit CCTV coverage, so that expansion of the scheme could be considered in the future."
Traders in the town welcomed the CCTV revamp.
Manager of The Kings Arms Phil Snell said: "This is good news for Calne. It is a positive step towards a safer town. It is a fantastic idea to link traders with other traders and police.
"Anything that provides a safer environment for Calne is good news."
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