Anger at planned fee rises and CCTV shutdown in Cannock
A councillor who worked tirelessly to bring CCTV to Cannock after she was a victim of crime has hit out against her own authority's plan to axe the cameras.
The move comes in a raft of cost-cutting measures that could be implemented next year by Cannock Chase District Council as it looks to save £1.6 million.
This could see CCTV turned off, charges for parking and market hire increasing and funding cuts for the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Labour Party Councillor Maureen Freeman was harassed by a man who was banned from contacting her and ordered to pay £820 in costs and fines in 2012. She fought to get CCTV cameras installed and has now expressed her disappointment that the system has been included in a raft of proposed cuts.
MORE: Huge Cannock Chase cutbacks revealed in full
Councillor Freeman told the Express & Star: "There are no decisions yet. But I fought very hard to get CCTV in Cannock Park because of the increase of anti-social behaviour so for them to go potentially – although as I say potentially – I would be very, very disappointed.
"They do have a big role to play in preventing anti-social behaviour and go a way in reducing it in town centres in particular.
"I have been in favour of them for quite some time at crime hotspots. I would say that CCTV, no matter where the cameras are, are extremely important in keeping people safe."
Under the measures, traders in Cannock's Market Hall would be expected to pay three per cent more for their pitches as part of other cost-saving measures.
A market trader, who did not want to be named, said they felt the council were pressing on ahead with plans without taking opinions from their tenants at the hall, including a proposal to increase the number of days it is open from three to four a week.
"I have been there for 11 years and I have seen the town going down, down, down. When you're struggling it just tips you over. I can see next year I might not be there. It is very worrying."
The impact of the cuts could stretch to footballers – who would be expected to foot an increase of 20 per cent in pitch hire. That would bring in an extra £4,000 for the council, it has predicted.
Another proposal already reported by the Express & Star was rejected by the member of a Cannock Chase flower club. Flowers beds and traffic islands would be left bare if a proposal to stop planting floral displays in Cannock, Rugeley and Hednesford were chosen to save £12,000 a year.
Chris Flood, from Norton Canes Flower Club, said: "I think it's radically wrong.
"I think it's a shame because I am sure they give a lot of pleasure to a lot of people. I feel that it adds to any place to have floral displays."
Another proposal would mean Christmas light displays paid for by the district council this year could be the last – although Hednesford Town Council has already said it is likely to be able to pick up the tab for the lights there from 2017 onwards.
The district council has said it would save £34,630 by making that cut.
Parish and community councils are also likely to need to make up their own funding gap as the district council plans to reduce their funding by £78,000.
The leader of the Conservative group on the council, Councillor Paul Snape, said: "I believe we need to make cuts. We need to do more to attract business in a different way for the future. We need to be less reliant on business rates and being innovative.
"We are looking at a new cemetery – we can keep it in house or give it to someone else to run. That could be a way of making it more cost-effective for residents. I am hoping that residents turn up in numbers to say what they want. We should be listening to what they are telling us. It is easy for me as a ward councillor to say Cannock West residents want this but the people of Cannock West might think differently."
For a full list of the proposed cuts and to undertake the online consultation visit https://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/council/about-council/budget-consultation-2017-18.
