A VILLAGE which has suffered night-time vandalism, anti-social behaviour and crime, could get new CCTV cameras.

Councillors in Ribble Valley are endorsing extra security measures for Whalley using the borough's £2m UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation.

Whalley has a bustling bar, club and restaurant scene but residents complain of late-night noise, damage, crime and violence.

Revellers, security staff and venue managers have been blamed for late night problems. Elsewhere some youngsters were blamed for bad behaviour, drugs and damage including around the abbey. 

Queen Street's residents’ group and some councillors, like Ged Mirfin, have urged borough licensing and legal officers to do more enforcement work, such as reviewing venue licences, closing times, noise controls and other licensing conditions.

Now plans for a pilot scheme, including four CCTV cameras for Whalley, costing just under £5,000, have been unveiled.

In a report to finance committee members, economic development director Nicola Hopkins says: "Acknowledging the increased levels of anti-social behaviour in Whalley and recent vandalism at the public toilets,  members of the council’s emergency Committee agreed in August to provide up to four stand-alone cameras in Whalley including one monitoring the entrance to the toilets.

“Such a scheme would be run as a pilot to establish whether it could be rolled-out elsewhere in the borough. The last quote we sought for a stand-alone system was just under £5,000. However this would need updating and to include costs for any civil [engineering] work required mainly for power supplies.

“Discussions with the local police have begun to establish what provisions for CCTV are needed in Whalley. This is particularly relevant as it is understood that the tree which obscures one of the existing cameras, which could observe the toilet entrance, is likely to be pruned by the parish council to enable surveillance.”