Ilkley CCTV Petition Likely Rejected

Ilkley’s petition for CCTVs more likely to be rejected.

15:01 08 June 2018

Ilkley is set to remain the only town in Bradford district to not have on-street CCTV cameras. The petition that calls for the installation of CCTV will be formally rejected by Bradford Council’s decision-making executive committee due to lack of sufficient funding. Based on estimates, the cost of installing 10 high-definition CCTV cameras in Ilkley could be up to £100,000 excluding running and maintenance costs.

 

A report is asking councillors to pass a resolution that states: “That whilst all crime is cause for concern, Executive regretfully cannot allocate any additional funding to the operation of the CCTV system to provide coverage for Ilkley town centre.”

 

The report highlights that in comparison, Ilkley has fewer crimes than Shipley, which does not have CCTV cameras monitored by Bradford Council’s CCTV control room.

 

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) who backed the petition said: “I never did believe that Bradford Council would pick up the tabs for a full CCTV package for the town. I did however, particularly with the night-time economy change, expect them to come part way to help us.

 

“I did expect they would agree to the use of the control room. It would not have been a big cost.”

 

She added: “The report is sadly silent on current events in the town as to disorder.”