Backing for warden scheme

HAILSHAM S police chief has supported plans for street wardens to patrol trouble spots in Hailsham.

The idea for civilian street wardens is the brainchild of Cllr Nick Ellwood, who believes the scheme would help cut out anti-social behaviour in the town.

At a council meeting on Monday, Cllr Ellwood said that the cost of such a project had been investigated by Hailsham s clerk, Liz Jones, and that security specialists Securicor would charge 51,000 per year for two wardens with vehicles, mobile phones, pagers and uniforms.

A police spokesman at the meeting said Insp. Tim Piloni was keen to lend his support to the wardens, who will not be employed until a full programme of public consultation has been undertaken and the best value-for-money option has been determined.

'Anything that can help us to detect and prevent crimes in the area will be welcomed by your local inspector, and Sussex Police as a whole, said the spokesman. He went on to dispel fears that the wardens would make for a lesser police presence in the town.

The warden project has come under fire from some members of the town council for adding too greatly to the administration s expenditure, but Cllr Ellwood played down the financial impact, saying it would add just 9.08 per year to an average B and D property s council tax.

He said: 'When you consider that this works out at only 17 pence per week for safer streets, I think you ll agree it makes good sense.

Another project proposed by Cllr Ellwood at Monday s meeting was for a CCTV satellite control centre in the town, which would allow observation staff to concentrate solely on Hailsham. Images from the cameras are currently transmitted to a control centre in Eastbourne which also looks after the cameras in Seaford, Eastbourne and other towns in the area.

The cost of such a centre in Hailsham would be about 12,500, but if plans to invest in one become final then they would first go out to tender to ensure the council was getting the best possible value for money.

Local tax dispute: Page 3