Plans to extend closed circuit television (CCTV) are being considered at sites in Great Baddow, Melbourne, Moulsham and Kings Road and the Boarded Barns estate areas of Chelmsford.

A 700 name petition for CCTV has already been presented to Chelmsford Borough Council by residents in the Meadgate area of Great Baddow.

Since its inception in Chelmsford town centre, crime has reduced dramatically and where it occurs, 24 hour operators are able to zoom in and immediately tell police.

The Vineyards, Great Baddow, is one of the sites being suggested for Home Office support.

The CCTV monitoring will be a partnership between Chelmsford Borough Council and the police.

Spencer Clarke, senior assistant engineer at Chelmsford Borough Council said: ''We are currently assessing the suitability of a number of sites for the provision of CCTV cameras.

''We need to analyse police crime statistics and carry out 'fear of crime' surveys prior to deciding which sites meet the criteria for Home Office crime reduction funding.''

Various projects are being developed to enhance the interest of young people in the Melbourne and Boarded Barns area.

Among proposals is an after school club at Kings Road School in which Melbourne School are also involved.

A football link project is also planned for Spring next year and the United Reformed Church has partners for another youth project.

Insp Nigel Cockrell, based at South Woodham Ferrers, has been overseeing the police initiative to form partnerships.

More Cameras?: Left to right, Spencer Clarke, Chelmsford Borough Council, Kathy Payne, Chelmsford Police Crime reduction Officer and Pc Lee Parish, Community Beat Officer at The Vineyards, Great Baddow which could be a site for CCTV cameras.

By Fred Hammerton

Reporter's e-mail: fred.hammerton@essex-chronicle.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.