SIR,

At the last Buckholt WI meeting, the membership was very concerned that Monmouth Town Council has decided to let the CCTV cameras in Monmouth go to Chepstow.

Several months ago in my role as president, I was a member of a delegation which took a petition to the council offices.

No response or acknowledgement has been forthcoming and this correspondence appears to have been totally ignored.

Monmouth does need CCTV: it is only a few weeks ago that you ran a headline on the front page 'A smashing time over Christmas'.

Surely there is a possibility that the perpetrators of these acts of vandalism might have been identified if cameras were operational in the main streets.

Our membership recognises that the shops are badly affected by this social disorder and in the course of time, a continuation of these incidents could result in closure of the shops, increased empty premises and more vandalism.

The effects on our comunity – and especially on the elderly – could be a loss of shopping amenity and an increasing fear for personal safety on our streets. In addition it creates a tarnished image of a once quiet and peaceful town.

If neighbouring towns, such as Chepstow and Abergavenny, have recognised the potential benefits of CCTV and, according to recent reports in your paper, they are supported by the views of our Constabulary, just how short sighted is Monmouth Town Council?

Buckholt WI urges our councillors to support your townspeople and the people who voted for you.

Sue Evans

(President)