Maldon district councillors have had a change of heart over closed circuit TV for the town.

Officers had recommended to the cabinet committee that a bid to the Home Office should be dropped because of high running costs, lack of partnership funding and Maldon's low crime levels.

Last year, a bid was rejected because of the high running costs, but now officers have been told to come back to the committee in two weeks with an outline bid to be put before the Government by December 22.

Director of leisure and community services John Knight said: "Councillors read the report and didn't accept it. We have been asked to prepare the outline bid. The Home Office would pay the capital costs of installing the equipment and running costs would be about £31,600 a year. We have also been asked to look at getting financial support from other organisations towards the running costs."

Maldon Chamber of Trade chairman Chris Tibballs welcomed the change of heart.

He said: "We have a committee meeting next week and we shall be looking at how we can make a contribution, however small, to show our total support for the proposal."

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