BLACKPOOL's crime-hit council estates look set to become safer places to live with the installation of CCTV cameras.
A total of seven cameras will be installed on the Grange Park, Queens Park and Mereside estates as part of Phase 4 of Blackpool Borough Council's CCTV initiative, along with four new cameras for South Shore, two for the town centre and three in the Hounds Hill car park.
In addition to this, the control of 60 existing cameras on Queens Park estate will switch to the Bonny Street control centre and two special mobile units will be used to target troubled hotspots.
John Shaw, chief engineer for the council, said Phase 4 represents a significant expansion of CCTV coverage as the previous phases have concentrated on town centre areas, shopping areas and car parks.
He said: "The CCTV initiative has had significant benefits in terms of safety and security within the town centre and has brought about reductions in auto crime on the council's surface and multi-storey car parks.
"Phase 4 is specifically targeted at crime reduction and residential areas." The decision to expand coverage into residential areas was a result of extensive consultation with housing bosses and Blackpool Police. John said: "There is a lot of public movement near the shops on Mereside's Langdale Place and Grange Park's Dinmore Avenue and they are the subject of public concern which is why the cameras will be placed there."
Paul Lucas, property services manager for Blackpool Borough Council, said the first three phases have cost around £750,000, adding: "Phase 4 is expected to cost around £770,000 because the control centre in Bonny Street will be extended six-fold to cope with the expansion." The money has come from Home Office grants, Blackpool's Single Regeneration Budget, Blackpool Borough Council and the Town Centre Forum.
On top of this, another £102,000 has been given by the Home Office for the Targeted Policing Initiatives scheme, which aims to reduce crime levels. The money will be used to link 13 town centre cameras to speakers to provide a full audio-visual police presence, and to install a series of scrolling message boards along Yeadon Way which will be used to provide an information service to drivers.
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