Councillors investing in CCTV

Ward representatives in Pemberton have shelled out around £7,600 to replace the camera on Ormskirk Road when it came to the end of its working life.

Having originally been behind the fund-raising to get a camera near the junction with White Street Coun Jeanette Prescott, Coun Paul Prescott and Coun Sam Murphy immediately decided to get it replaced when needed.

They say the lens has had an important role to play in protecting businesses and shoppers in what has become an increasingly bustling centre of Pemberton.

Coun Jeanette Prescott said: “We wanted to make sure crimes being committed were caught on camera and to make people feel safe.

“We took the decision that the camera was important for the area. We have a lot of shops here and like everywhere there will be occasional problems like shoplifting.

“We also have pubs and clubs here where there might be incidents every now and then and Pemberton is also a through route to the motorway so if crimes are committed elsewhere it could help the police follow the cars.

“We think it is money well spent as this area is very well used now. Most of the time we don’t get issues here but with the way things are now people don’t have a lot of money and some of them are hungry.

“This time we’ve also invested in a high-definition camera with really good quality images. We wanted something as up-to-date as possible.”

As well as the initial outlay for the camera, which is already up and running in Pemberton, the councillors will need to find around £2,500 each year for maintenance and upkeep.

Coun Paul Prescott is up for election on May 3 for the Pemberton ward. The Labour representative is facing the voters along with Susan Atherton for the Conservatives and Liberal Democrat candidate David Burley.