£650 - to survey a lamppost!

The town council has agreed to buy five new cameras in a bid to tackle concerns about increasing anti social behaviour in the town.

The cameras will cost around £12,000.

Following site visits involving town councillors and officers from East Lindsey District Council, the following five locations were supported:

•Tesco car park

•Bridge Street (also to cover Market Place)

•North Street (from War Memorial Hospital)

•Wharf Road (to cover backs of properties in Lindsey Court)

•Car park at cricket pavilion (to cover tennis club and sports ground).

Some of the locations could involve mounting cameras on lampposts owned by the county council.

However, Coun Angela Birchall questioned how the county council could justify charging £650 for a survey.

She told this month’s town council meeting: “To me – and most people I’m sure – £650 for a each lamppost (survey) seems an awful lot of money.

“Perhaps we need look at an alternative.”

Town mayor Fiona Martin voiced similar concerns and said the council would look at other potential camera sites.

She confirmed a possible site for the camera in Tesco car park was on a lamppost owned by ELDC who apparently don’t charge for a survey.

Although the five locations, have been identified and approved, the process of installing the cameras is far from over.

Some sites are on listed buildings and might need planning permission.

Other locations could involve special measures to stop the cameras recording through the windows of privately- owned homes.

Coun Richard Barker said the total cost of buying and installing the cameras was still in doubt.

He said checks for electricity supplies – and the availability of wi-fi – were two other major factors.

We added: “We could have to get planning permission and listed building consent which could delay everything.

“If we put then on lampposts, there’s the LCC survey cost but no planning or listed building issues.”

Asked by Coun Barker, county councillor Bill Aron said he would bring up the cost of the survey with officers.

Town clerk Amanda Bushell said it was important to order the cameras as soon as possible.

She explained contractors had warned that delays caused by covid and Brexit had led to supply issues.

She added: “They advised me there is a long waiting time.

“They suggested putting an order in now rather than waiting for two or three months because it could be the Autumn before they (the cameras) arrive.”

Councillors also agreed that it would be ideal if the cameras could cover two children’s play parks which had been vandalised recently. The parks are off Prospect Street and Coronation Walk.

Horncastle is part of the ‘Seven Town’ CCTV partnership which is managed by ELDC.