RESIDENTS troubled by vandals still face a wait for Big Brother in their town after vital funds were delayed.

Princes Risborough Town Council is keen to get CCTV installed in the towns trouble spots and were expecting money from Bucks County Council last week for a new unit.

The money has not arrived but is expected in the next couple of weeks meaning the installation of a mobile CCTV unit to cover areas such as Horns Lane car park can begin.

The town council and district officials have already provided cash for the unit which will be six weeks to a month away once all funding is in.

Cllr Dennis Green, chairman of Wycombe District Council and member for Princes Risborough, is providing more than £2,000 for the CCTV unit as leader of the Community Fund.

He said: I am hoping the CCTV will provide some coverage in the Horns Lane car park because people have been experiencing problems there for over a year.

I am sure CCTV will be a great help but I fear the problems may well move to another part of the town.

Cllr John Coombs, Princes Risborough Town Council chairman, said: "CCTV is something I believe in and hopefully it will allow us to see who is causing trouble in places such as Horns Lane.

He added the council has struck up a partnership with the local fire service to put up a camera on the station which could allow close monitoring of the troublesome car park.

Council officials will be able to move the camera around the town to areas they feel are attracting vandals.

Cllr Gary Hall, Princes Risborough Town Council vice-chairman, said: I think we should view this initial unit as a first step on the road to full CCTV coverage in the town.

I would like to see CCTV all over the town in the next five years with a proper level of coverage.

There was some bad news for residents however as Cllr Coombs revealed district officials will say no to proposals for locking gates on the Horns Lane car park to stop youths gathering.

He added: "We have missed out on an opportunity to cut out this problem all together."

January 22, 2003 11:00