CAMPAIGNERS say they are delighted that a pot of cash is being made available to fund CCTV in the town centre to help combat crime.

The money will buy closed-circuit television systems around the town and will go towards setting up a central network, uniting the town’s old and new systems into one hub, which will be monitored by police.

Members of Swindon Pubwatch along with local businesses and councillors campaigned to Swindon and Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson to provide a grant for the project last month.

A joint partnership between the PCC, Swindon Council, InSwindon and Wiltshire Police has now been launched, with each providing £10,000 each year for the next three years. The council is also forking out an additional £100,000 towards the scheme.

A spokesman for the PCC said: “Mr Macpherson, has agreed to honour commitments made by Wiltshire Police before he came to office for CCTV funding in Swindon.”

Pubwatch’s vice chairman Danny Mason said he was really pleased the town will be able to benefit from the new systems.

“It’s great it’s finally happening,” said Danny, of the Revolution bar in Bridge Street.

“It’s a shame it’s taken nearly 15 years – we are years behind other places. We have been pushing for this for at least 10 years.

“It’s crazy with the size of Swindon that there was not something in place sooner. But this will help police catch criminals and bang them to rights.

“It will also offer protection for our door staff who are always having punches thrown at them. This will help us improve an already improving town centre.”

Coun Bob Wright, who represents the central ward and who also sits on the safer and stronger communities overview and scrutiny committee, said he was very happy the cash has been offered to support the scheme.

“It will provide for the police a vehicle to get information which they didn’t have,” he said.

“We are over the moon that the funding is being made available – it is a success story. It will help with lowering crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.”

He said the council will also be removing a number of items of street furniture from the town centre, which offenders had previously used to shield their crimes.

It is anticipated the new system will be in place before Christmas and running by the New Year.