Shepton Mallet backs CCTV upgrade over poor images

By Laura Linham 23rd Mar 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 1 hour ago

Shepton Mallet Town Council has agreed to move ahead with a CCTV upgrade after hearing that poor image quality is limiting the system's usefulness. Councillors were told the problem is not the cameras themselves, but the infrastructure carrying the footage.

During the debate, members said the current quality was falling short when incidents needed to be reviewed. Cllr Jon Ducker said he had recently spoken to PC Lee Hicks and told the meeting the message was blunt: the quality "might as well not have it".

Cllr Edric Hobbs also backed an upgrade, saying: "Currently, what we've got is pointless." He linked the issue to previous incidents in Collett Park and wider concerns over anti-social behaviour and public safety.

There was broad support around the chamber for spending money to make the system work properly. Cllr Matthew Harrison said: "Let's spend it on something that's actually going to be really effective and good," while Cllr Jane Nicklin said: "We can't do nothing."

The council backed the recommended wireless upgrade option, which members heard would carry a higher upfront cost but avoid annual line rental costs. The meeting also heard that a separate Collett Park camera is already within budget, although that did not form part of the main vote.

Cllr James Brittain, while saying he was "not a huge fan of CCTV generally", told the meeting: "I am gonna vote for it." He said better quality footage could still provide valuable clues even where faces were not clear.

The vote means officers can now continue work on improving the system, with councillors making clear they do not want to keep paying for surveillance that cannot do the job residents and police need it to do. The decision comes amid wider local concern over safety, town centre confidence and public amenities, alongside current civic issues such as TrainLink campaign raises bus trial concerns and Shepton Mallet election call still short in West Ward.