PENDLE is facing a CCTV crisis that could see the crime and disorder-discouraging cameras removed for the borough’s five main urban centres.

Now the town councils in Brierfield, Nelson, Colne, Barnoldswick and Earby are to be asked to find the cash to keep the closed circuit television system running.

The CCTV cameras cash crisis was discussed at Pendle Borough’s executive on Thursday night. It agreed that council leader Mohammed Iqbal and his deputy Tony Greaves should approach the town councils for cash to solve the crisis.

It agreed to call an urgent meeting with the third-tier local government bodies in Brierfield, Nelson, Colne, Barnoldswick and Earby. A report from Geoff Whitehead, Pendle Councils community protection manager, told the Labour/LibDem executive that the borough would wish to maintain a quality CCTV facility in Pendle in the interests of public safety, confidence and to manage anti-social behaviour and crime in its town centres.

However, it said given the current budgetary pressure facing the borough council this could not be sustained after April 2016 without town councils finding the cash.

Mr Whitehead said the existing fibre optic systems in Brierfield, Nelson and Colne were coming to the end of their useful lives. His report proposed moving to a new wireless (wifi) system using a new East Lancashire monitoring hub at Blackburn.

Barnoldswick LibDem councillor David Whipp said: “We cannot upgrade the system we have got. It is antiquated and we cannot afford the cost of running them. The question is: ‘If we get a new system, will town councils pick up the tab?’ We have to say to them that if they think it’s worth keeping, they’ve got to be prepared to pay for it.

“We may have to take the poles down if there is not the money and commitment to pay for them.”

The Executive unanimously agreed to work towards a new system with a target start date of April 1, 2016.