ABERGAVENNY Town Council is to invest more than £8,000 in replacing its CCTV cameras in the town centre.

Councillors agreed to take the cash from its reserve funding to ensure that five of its six cameras are replaced with the newer dome-style models in order to produce better quality images.

Councillors were told that the current CCTV cameras being used in the town were eight years old and were now obsolete, with spare parts becoming a real issue for the authority.

Andrew Mason, CCTV development officer for Monmouthshire community safety partnership, said that by upgrading the cameras that it would not only provide better clarity but people would not tell which way the cameras are facing.

He added: "The cameras are now monitored in Blaenavon, a facility that Monmouthshire shares its costs with Torfaen. We had teething problems to begin with when it was moved there in April, but these issues have now been resolved.

"The Torfaen council has replaced its CCTV cameras with the new ones and there is a marked improvement in the clarity of the images. The cost of replacing Abergavenny Town Council's five cameras would require a one-off payment of £8,350."

Sergeant Tony Patey informed members that the CCTV is beneficial as it is already being used in conjunction with the revamped Storenet radio system that is used by traders in Abergavenny.

Councillor John Prosser asked whether the new cameras would be using mobile phone technology or would be using a fixed line.

Mr Mason responded: "The town centre cameras are fixed, however the partnership has obtained a couple of cameras that use 3G Wifi enabled technology which can be deployed where ever they are required on a temporary basis."

Councillor Douglas Edwards reminded members that the amount they were being asked to consider was a one-off fee on top of the council's annual contribution of £13,000 towards the scheme's running costs.

Because the councillors had set the budget earlier in the meeting, a lengthy debate ensure to see where money could be cut from the budget to pay for the new cameras without putting a strain on the council's funds.

Councillor Martin Hickman said that CCTV was imperative for the town and that the council must find a way for it to be upgraded. He added: "It's a no-brainer. We must keep CCTV and upgrade it if it's needed.

However Councillor Norma Watkins pointed out: "Every council has to cut its cloth accordingly and there is no spare money for CCTV in this year's budget. "

The councillors felt that after a lengthy discussion that it was too difficult to find anything that they could cut from the approved budget and voted to pay for the CCTV cameras from the council's reserves.

Councillor Prosser added: "We've a delegation from the Friends of Bailey Park here tonight and I know that they would be interested in a camera for this area. But because there is no lighting in much of the park, it would need the provision of night vision cameras to monitor this successfully. I think its something this council should investigate."