FELIXSTOWE: Moves are under way to extend the town centre's crime-busting CCTV system as part of work to revamp the shopping area.The CCTV scheme has been hailed as a huge success since it was brought in a year ago - giving greater protection to businesses and making visitors feel safer.

FELIXSTOWE: Moves are under way to extend the town centre's crime-busting CCTV system as part of work to revamp the shopping area.

The CCTV scheme has been hailed as a huge success since it was brought in a year ago - giving greater protection to businesses and making visitors feel safer.

Now it is hoped to add a new camera - costing about �7,500 - as part of the work to improve Bent Hill, described as “a significant crime hot spot particularly for alcohol-related violent crime” for the past ten years.

Moves are also taking place to include an extra camera on The Triangle in Hamilton Road to cover the area and the new toilets. There are also plans for another outside the new Lidl store in Langer Road as well as the Ordnance roundabout, High Road and Spa Gardens.

The camera scheme currently covers Hamilton Road and the seafront around the leisure centre and is monitored at peak times by a team of 25 trained volunteers working from the police station.

Peter Dawes, chairman of Felixstowe Chamber of Trade and Commerce, which contributes annually to the maintenance costs of the system, said everyone was hopeful grant applications to fund the extra cameras would be successful.

“The feedback we have had from chamber executive committee members and retailers has been very positive,” he said.

“We had been aware that Felixstowe was becoming a soft touch as Ipswich got more CCTV and community officers, with the criminal activity being forced down to Felixstowe.

“CCTV has definitely strengthened our security and everyone is very pleased.” The original scheme cost �62,500 with funding including a �36,000 grant from the Home Office plus contributions from Felixstowe Town Council, police and county council.