€50k CCTV plan to ease security fears of town’s elderly
A committee set up in Bantry — comprising the gardaí, neighbourhood watch, business community and a Joint Policing Committee (JPC) — is to apply next month for planning permission to erect five CCTV cameras in the town centre.
Bantry’s population has increased between 2002 and the census taken in 2011. The latest figures show 19.1% are over 65, compared to a national average of 11.7%.
The committee wants to ensure the safety of the elderly and also help reduce public order incidences in the town centre.
They also believe the cameras will act as a deterrent to travelling criminals.
Ruth O’Brien, a county council engineer involved in the project, said planning permission had to be sought as some of the cameras would be placed on protected buildings.
It’s planned to install cameras at the corner of Marine St/Barrack St, the north-eastern side of the Square, corner of High St/New St and the corner of the Square/New St.
A further camera will be placed on the pier, but Ms O’Brien said its exact location hadn’t been decided yet.
Inspector Joe O’Connor said the cameras would help ensure public safety.
“They will also be a deterrent to would-be offenders and will be of benefit to gardaí as they will provide evidence in cases of assaults, etc,” Insp O’Connor said.
Cllr Eugene Cronin, chairman of the Bantry JPC, said they had looked at a similar system in Kanturk and received technicaladvice from local gardaí.
Cllr Marry Hegarty said her town didn’t experience much crime, but nevertheless believed the introduction of CCTV would reduce antisocial behaviour.
“There’s a very elderly population down there and we need to give them a sense of security,” CllrDanny Crowley said.
He asked that the committee also look at placing a camera near the local secondary school.
However, the committee said such a camera would have to be added later because they couldn’t afford it at present.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
