Conservative controlled West Lancashire Borough Council has unveiled its new CCTV surveillance suite at a secret location. The new suite has the latest infra-red technology and will be the hub for security, overseeing an eventual total of 86 cameras all over the borough. In a project costing £360,000, the council has replaced all of its 59 existing cameras and will install a further 27 later this year.
The portfolio holder for community safety, Derby ward councillor, Cllr David Sudworth, said: “This investment will enhance our CCTV system and improve the safety of residents and visitors. West Lancashire is a safe place to live and visit and the new improved cameras will only help to ensure it stays this way.This project has taken a lot of work and the staff involved should be congratulated. They have delivered a first-class suite and made substantial improvements to the camera network.”
The council says that the project will help keep crime down and protect communities, with many of the new cameras being placed in rural areas not previously covered. About £200,000 of the cost of the project to upgrade the cameras and install the new monitoring suite has been paid by the council, and the Local Strategic Partnership has provided funding of about £160,000.
The town centres of Ormskirk and Burscough, and Sandy Lane, Ashurst and Digmoor are among the areas which receive this protection. In addition to the CCTV suite, the facilities for the council's Home Care Link service have also been improved.The service provides a lifeline for vulnerable people and can contact relatives or the emergency services if a vulnerable person requires assistance.