Onus on council to pay for CCTV

THE owner of a Strabane store, targeted by vandals, has said the onus is on the local authority to pay for the installation of CCTV.

Paul Fleming, proprietor of All Sorts 4U based at Lifford Road, arrived at his premises last Thursday morning to find the windows smashed by ball bearings.

In a week that seen the debate once again stir on close circuit television for Strabane, Mr Fleming contacted the Chronicle to say it is now essential that the town is covered by cameras to prevent crime.

Ball bearings shot from a catapult broke the glass of two windows and a door some time late on Wednesday night last.

The businessman has now spent over £1000 on repairing the damage, erecting shutters and installing outside cameras.

"There are no cameras on this complex at all. I have decided to install cameras outside. My intention is that this type of vandalism is not repeated, and if it is the perpetrators will be caught.

"CCTV should be installed around the town and paid for by the Council. The Council is getting enough from businesses without expecting us to pay for CCTV.

"All shopkeepers have to pay high rates. I pay £3000 a year on rates here and that's more or less for having the bin emptied once a week and making use of a toilet. There is no public lighting in this complex.

"In the town centre, the businesses are paying higher rates for their premises. Is it going to be a case that we are all going to have to barricade and shutter our shops.

"We are all paying high rates and it begs the question, what for?

"Strabane definitely needs CCTV, it should have been installed a long time ago. As a businessperson I think all of the town requires coverage, especially at a time when the town is getting onto its feet. It is just too nice, when you consider the new theatre and the library, to have it destroyed by vandals.

"I do feel that more people would come into the town if CCTV was there as they would feel more secure. It would also act as a deterrent and the insurance costs for businesses would drop as a result," he added.