PROPOSED CCTV cameras in Barnoldswick and Earby may now be funded by the government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and the Market Town's Initiative.

Borough, town and parish councillors have backed a bid to bring 18 CCTV cameras to West Craven, 12 in Barnoldswick and six in Earby, as well as cameras in Barrowford.

But it was suggested last year that annual running costs of up to £42,000 should be met by Barnoldswick and Earby's local councils adding it to their Council Tax precept, which West Craven councillors were strongly opposed to. Coun David Whipp said such funding would be unfair. He said: "It would be a double tax demand for local residents. We would pay the Borough for them to run the Nelson scheme but have to cover all the local costs ourselves."

At this week's Policy Committee, Coun Azhar Ali said meeting the revenue costs was a major issue in putting bids forward.

He suggested that the funding area for the schemes at Barnoldwick and Earby, together with one at Barrowford, should be the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Market Towns Initiative.

Coun Whipp said that both sources of finance were new. He said: "No one knows if such funding will be allowed, or if our bid will be weakened by including them. We'll have to wait and see."

Outline bids for the three CCTV schemes are due to be submitted by the council before the end of April.

If the bids are approved, it is likely to be 12 months or more before cameras are actually installed.