Troubled area to get cameras

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Saturday 7th Jan 2006.

BIG Brother will be keeping a watchful eye over Eldene Centre after a six-year campaign for CCTV finally got the go-ahead from Swindon Council.

Work to install the equipment will begin on Monday after campaigners raised £26,000.

And former Dorcan councillor Pete Brown, who was the driving force behind the scheme, believes the cameras will provide peace of mind to shopkeepers and shoppers alike.

And he says it will send out a message to the gangs of youths who regularly hang around the centre.

"It has taken me ages to finally get this through and there has been a lot of hard work by a lot of people," he said.

"The main reason for pushing for the CCTV is because of the bad times we have had in the past at the shopping centre.

"There was a stabbing there 15 or 20 years ago and lots of people have been nervous walking the streets at night.

"CCTV does not stop crime all the time, as it often moves it on to another area.

"But it will give people the security of being able to walk around without the fear of being intimidated.

"We are not saying all kids are bad, because the majority are good, it is just the odd one that causes trouble."

Swindon Council, Eldene Community Centre, Martins Store, the Co-op and the education and community grants panel provided the funding for the CCTV system.

It will take between two and three weeks to install and Swindon Services will be responsible for monitoring the images from its security control room 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The state-of-the-art cameras will produce extremely clear images day or night, which can be used in any potential court case.

Dan Harrison, the assistant manager of the Co-op in Eldene Centre, said he was relieved the cameras would finally be in place.

"I think it will get rid of the fear of crime," he said.

"It is going to deter youths who hang around outside the shop and hopefully will make our customers feel safer.

"I've not seen a lot of crime since I have been at the store and hopefully the CCTV will make sure it stays that way."

Coun Roderick Bluh, the deputy leader of Swindon Council (Con, Dorcan), said: "CCTV funding has always been a problem.

"The fact that we have found the money to install it in Eldene pleased me greatly.

"It is great news and, hopefully, it will make a real difference to the community there."

The centre has suffered from a number of incidents.

A little more than a year ago a letterbox was removed after a postman was attacked.

Paperboys in the area have also had their bikes stolen And in July 2004 a robbery was carried out at the Done Bookmakers.

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