Residents on a Llanrwst housing estate have broken new ground in their bid to stamp out anti-social behaviour.
CCTV cameras have been installed on the Glanrafon estate in what is seen as pilot scheme in the county of Conwy.
The system has been installed by Cartrefi Conwy, who, in 2008, took over responsibility for housing matters from the county borough council.
The housing association responded to a plea from residents on the estate which, like many other estates, has experienced anti-social behaviour problems. There are 66 flats and maisonettes on the estate, with tenants ranging from young families to pensioners.
“It’s an easy place to reach and very convenient for youngsters to access,” said Robert Hawkes, vice-chairman of Glanrafon Tenants’ Association.
The idea of having a CCTV system was first mooted by Glanrafon Tenants Association three years ago but it was not until about a year ago that funding was obtained through Conwy Voluntary Services Council.
Robert Hawkes, who moved onto the estate only two years ago and who has also set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, said: “We carried out a survey of the residents and 64% were in favour of having a CCTV system.”
Once the grant of £5,000 from CVSC was confirmed Cartrefi Conwy agreed to meet the cost of installing the five cameras which cover three different accesses onto the estate as well the popular playground and garages.
The sophisticated system, which is equally effective in darkness, is monitored at Cartrefi Conwy’s anti-social behavior unit in their head offices in Colwyn Bay and DVDs of any incidents will be made available to North Wales Police.
John Roberts, who is secretary of the Tenants’ Association and chairman of the Tenants’ Forum which represents all of Cartrefi Conwy’s 3,800 tenants, is delighted with the system and would like to see similar schemes on every estate throughout the county.
Wayne Bannister, Cartrefi Conwy’s Improvements Contracts Manager, who has overseen the installation, said that although there was a CCTV system on Llandudno’s Parc Bodnant estate it was not as sophisticated as that in Glanrafon and could not be monitored remotely.
“We have no reason to believe that the problems at Glanrafon are any worse than anywhere else but we are aware that there has been anti-social behaviour arising from youths gathering in the area and driving irresponsibly,” he said.
“There is no doubt that cameras are a deterrent and we have signs pointing out that they are present,” said Mr Bannister.
“This could be seen as a pilot scheme and we certainly support schemes such as this where the tenants find their own funding for the equipment,” he added.
Andrew Bowden, the Chief Executive of Cartrefi Conwy, was delighted they had been able to help ensure the installation of the CCTV system.
He said: “Our mission is to respond to the need of our communities and this scheme is an example of Cartrefi Conwy doing exactly that.”
