BRIDGWATER’S town centre CCTV system has been “safeguarded” after the town council agreed to fund it at a cost of £167,896.99 per year.

Town councillors agreed last Thursday, August 1 to fund Bridgwater’s CCTV cameras with the purpose of preventing and detecting crime and disorder in the town.

The council says this agreement will be reviewed annually.

A spokesperson for Bridgwater Town Council said: “Bridgwater Town Council is committed to playing its part in promoting community safety in Bridgwater.

“The most visible commitment to this is its funding of the town’s CCTV infrastructure.”

A Service Level Agreement is in place until 31 March 2027, for the monitoring of 60 cameras covering the majority of the Bridgwater town centre and its periphery.

The cameras are monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by trained operators.

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Since Somerset Council declared a financial emergency last year, it has been offering services such as this to town and parish council’s to offset costs.

Somerset Council needs to bridge an £80m funding gap in the current financial year and a £100m budget gap for 2025/2026.

To help with this funding gap, the council is also considering selling off The Market House in Taunton and the Cornhill in Bridgwater, which have a combined estimated capital receipt range of £17m to £21m.