Spy cameras a step nearer

BIG BROTHER may soon be watching you if members of Helston Town Council agree tonight to continue to support in principle a project to install a closed circuit television system in the town.

Clerk Mr Brian Gooding will tell members that the initial funding of £5,000 could be met from reserves if agreed.

During the past 12 months, the Mayor, Mr Danny Keay, and Mr Gooding have attended a series of meetings at the West Cornwall Enterprise Centre, Redruth, where they have maintained a watching brief on endeavours being made to establish a CCTV system in the six principal towns of Kerrier and Penwith districts.

In a report by Mr Gooding, he says: "Representatives of town councils and/or trade organisations have been attending these meetings and the proposals have now reached a stage whereby it is hoped to set up a camera/video system in all of these towns with a central monitoring unit that would be manned on a 24-hour basis and which it is hoped may be provided at the Police Traffic Centre at Treswithian."

He says: "Obviously both the initial funding of such a project as well as the ongoing operating costs are considerable but as opposed to the view as to whether individual towns can afford to anticipate the question is posed whether, if the scheme is set up, any town can afford not to."

The Home Office are currently offering grant assistance to set up CCTV schemes.

Mr Gooding recommends that councillors support the project in principle and also that perhaps the matter be referred to the Environmental Working Party for their ongoing consideration.

Surplus houses may be empty for longer

SURPLUS Ministry of Defence married quarters in Helston could now be empty for a longer period than previously envisaged, members of the town council will be told tonight.

Further to the concerns expressed by councillors over the condition of the MOD's surplus and empty properties in Albion Road and Bulark Road, a change of policy with regard to their intended sale has been notified.

The DEO (Lands) Office of the MOD have now pointed out that a total of 83 properties have been withdrawn from the forthcoming sale and are to be added to the lists of married quarters nationwide which are to be the subject of a privatisation exercise.

As a result the DEO has retained only 48 houses, which will be marketed in a bulk sale.