KNUTSFORD Town Council is to fork out almost £13,000 per year to get the axed CCTV provision in the town-centre streets up and running.

At a town council meeting on Monday night, members agreed to enter into a three year agreement with Cheshire East Council to make a contribution towards CCTV provision within the town centre at a cost of £12,950 per year.

In an attempt to save money, Cheshire East Council cut its CCTV funding in 2013 and asked parish and town councils to fund CCTV cameras in the towns in the borough.

Knutsford Town Council decided not to make a contribution to the costs of CCTV provision in the town’s streets, with the view that the bill should be footed by Cheshire Police.

As a result, cameras have been recording but not been actively monitored for the past eight months.

The provision was reviewed by the council due to an approach by Cheshire Police, who were concerned that the lack of active monitoring would have impact on the welfare of the community and businesses.

The item was also put back on the agenda as Cheshire East Council have made it clear that, if the town council did not make a contribution towards the funding, the cameras would be removed.

Members were divided on the subject.

Clr Stewart Gardiner said that, if the benefit was to the police, then the funding should come from the constabulary.

“And I certainly don’t take kindly to the leader of Cheshire East going to town and parish councils telling them what to do when he chose to cut the budget – it is totally unacceptable,” he added.

“If commercial businesses feel they are not sufficiently secure they should use their own money to fund this, why should residents pay for it?”

Clr Simon Hutchence said he found it ‘chilling’ that someone would be watching what is going on 24/7/365 and he ‘fundamentally’ disagreed with CCTV.

“How on earth did we manage before CCTV, how was crime possibly solved?” he added. “Maybe there should be more bobbies on the beat but I find the whole concept of CCTV abhorrent.

“To read this from Cheshire Constabulary? Please. Do your job. It’s not for the council to fund, what is in essence, a police operation.”

However, other members highlighted that a plethora of problems would be solved by the reinstatement, such as detecting fire or accidents.

“It’s not just about crime, children who go missing can be found within minutes,” added Clr Mike Houghton. “CCTV can do a lot of preventive work.”

Clr Yvonne Bancroft said the sum, which equates to £2.30 per household, was not excessive if it made people feel safer.

“I would hate to think the elderly do not want to come out of their homes for fear of crime,” she said. “It it makes them feel safer we should have CCTV there – it would be crazy not to.”

Clr Gardiner said that buisnesses have expressed concern that the town would become a magnet for professional criminals but some members disagreed with this.

“I do think it is ridiculous to suggest if we do not have CCTV we will become crime capital of the country,” said Clr Hutchence. “I don’t think statistics will support that.”

At the vote, five councillors were in favour of the council entering into the aforementioned agreement, four councillors were against, and one abstained.