A village that feels it’s had a rough deal from South Holland’s CCTV cameras is reluctant to join a new system unless it can first have a six-month free trial.
Sutton Bridge had two cameras with the old system, but the parish council discovered one wasn’t working – and the district council cannot produce evidence to prove they’ve had all the maintenance checks the parish council paid for.
The new system with better cameras is monitored round-the-clock by professionals from a control centre at Boston, but Sutton Bridge Parish Council is not keen to join because – unlike Boston – it doesn’t have a police station.
The council heard Boston police can be on the spot in minutes if the control officers see an incident on their screens.
Parish council chairman Coun John Grimwood said: “It’s an absolutely wonderful system for Boston but I don’t think it is any good for Sutton Bridge.”
And vice-chairman Michael Booth said: “Is it value for money? It certainly hasn’t been in the past.”
Signing up would cost the parish council more than £2,300 a year.
Coun Gary Croxford said the parish council couldn’t invest that sort of money without “guarantees that there’s a response time from the police”.
The council agreed to ask for a free trial and, if that’s successful, it will join.