A smaller CCTV system than first proposed will be installed in Westport due to a lack of available funding.
At the town JPC meeting on Monday, it was outlined that the initial proposed CCTV system would cost €70,000, however there is only €20,000 worth of funding available which was allocated in Westport Town Council’s annual budget.
Cathaoirleach of the town council, Councillor Ollie Gannon, said: “We are not in a position to go ahead with what we would like to do,” but a smaller version of three to four cameras will be initially installed to start off with.
Cllr Martin Keane said that “people are crying out for security at night” and he commented that “people are afraid to come into town at night.”
Cllr Christy Hyland said that he hopes the system is rolled out as soon as possible as “I’ve talked about CCTV for a year and a half, let’s walk the walk instead of talking the talk.”
Superintendent Aiden Foley said that CCTV “will be an asset to the town” and will “help to detect and be a deterrent”.
Town clerk Anne Moore said that the CCTV committee will meet again in the next few weeks and they are also awaiting feedback from the Chamber of Commerce and Destination Westport. “We would hope that three to four cameras will be installed before the end of the year,” she said.
