Concern over CCTV cash

A 74,000 Home Office grant for three more CCTV cameras in Seaford could be lost if it is not spent by March next year.

And Seaford Town Council is worried it will lose out on the cash as Sussex Police has included the town s bid with those yet to be completed from other councils.

None can go ahead until all are complete.

Leader of the council Laurie Holland told the Express it was unfair for Seaford s bid to be penalised in this way.

He said: 'There has been such an outstanding effort on the part of the town council and staff to achieve this level of grant support it would be a tragedy for it not to be honoured.

'For this payment to be withdrawn would be a real blow to the expectations of the people of Seaford and the fight against the fear of crime. I hope common sense will prevail.

In an attempt to stop the money being lost the council had made a plea for it to be rolled over to the new financial year.

Town clerk Len Fisher said: 'There is a delay in the process caused by the Sussex Police Authority and the late notification from the Home Office to other successful Sussex towns.

But he added: 'This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. We are not prepared to stand by while 74,000 is lost.

Hotspots

Crime hotspots earmarked for the cameras are Place Lane, Lower Church Street, and near the Salts Recreation Ground on Marine Parade. This would bring the number of cameras in Seaford to six.

Richard Hoare, Sussex Police CCTV manager, confirmed work was not due to start on any CCTV projects until June 2002.

He said: 'The Seaford CCTV is part of other work we have in other parts of Sussex which we are putting together to make a bigger contract.

'The whole process of organising CCTV is fairly lengthy. For the three cameras in Seaford all the necessary permission has been put in place but other areas are not as advanced.

However, he was confident the Home Office money would be carried over to the new year and that the CCTV scheme would go ahead in June.

'There will be absolutely no case where Seaford will lose out on this, he added.