Six new cameras have been installed across the Cornish seaside town, paid for by contributions from St Ives Business Improvement District (BID), St Ives Town Council and Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez.
The total cost of the scheme was £46,411 with the majority of the money coming from St Ives BID, with the town’s businesses pushing for the scheme to go ahead. St Ives BID delivers a number of projects in the Cornish town to improve the trading environment.
The introduction of the CCTV system comes after 89% of businesses in St Ives stated they wanted CCTV in the town in a survey carried out in 2016.
Carl Lamb, St Ives BID Manager, said: “We are delighted to have the new CCTV system up and running. The business community in St Ives was very keen to have a system like this in place and we are so pleased that, together with the town council, we were able to install the cameras to help keep our town centre secure.”
A number of businesses are part of Shop Watch in St Ives, which was heavily involved in securing the CCTV system.
Sherry Siefken-Glossop, owner of The Attic Cellar Treatment Rooms and St Ives BID Director, has backed calls for the new CCTV cameras.
She said: “St Ives business owners, local residents and visitors alike will be encouraged by the installation of six new CCTV cameras.
“Shoplifting has been on the rise in recent years and shop owners will benefit from the CCTV deterrent as well as its ability to identify offenders. CCTV cameras will also benefit the St Ives community by helping emergency services to respond more efficiently to road collisions, fires, floods and antisocial behaviour.
“All in all, the CCTV cameras are a welcome addition to St Ives.”
The Town Council is also pleased to see the cameras up and working. As well as making a contribution to the purchase cost, the council will pay to maintain the system for the next seven years and will be responsible for it.
Town Mayor Suzanne Tanner says that the new system shows the advantages of working together.
She said: “The Town Council, BID and the Police and Crime Commissioner have made the town centre streets feel safer for residents and visitors. It is great to think that the emergency services will have a much clearer idea of any incident in the town before they get here, and so will be able to send the appropriate response. We can all be proud that we have made this happen in our town.”
To find out more about the range of shops, restaurants and galleries in St Ives visit www.stives-cornwall.co.uk or for more information about St Ives BID and its current projects visit www.stivesbid.co.uk
