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Plans for Ballymahon CCTV Warmly Received
Added December 12th 2010.

Plans for the introduction of CCTV cameras to combat anti-social behaviour in Ballymahon received resounding thumbs up following a public information meeting held at Cooney's Hotel on Wednesday evening last.

A relatively small gathering of locals and council officials attended the meeting which was organised by the Ballymahon Development Committee.

Facilitated by Martin Kennedy, a series of informative addresses were delivered by members of the local gardaí, security services and Longford County Council.

A number of key areas were earmarked as possible vantage points for the new cameras. These included the entrances to the town via Athlone and Edgeworthstown, Ballymahon Main Street, St Matthew's National School, Mercy Secondary School while the possibility of a further camera within the vicinity of the town's playground area was also mentioned.

Executive Chairman of Dublin based outfit, TEC Security Services, Stephen Tyrell spoke at great length regarding the "proactive" role that surveillance equipment can have on towns like Ballymahon in their ongoing battle against crime and anti-social behaviour.

"The cameras in general are a very proactive system in that they can be used to deal with anti-social behaviour and can even go as far as addressing problems such as littering," he said.

The proposals were drawn up in association with a community based CCTV scheme and administered by non profit organisation, Pobal with up to €100,000 being set aside for funding from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform should Ballymahon progress to the second stage of the application process. At present, the south Longford town has been allocated almost €4,500 towards meeting the pre-development costs of the plan.

Longford County Council representative, David Minton outlined the exact nature of the process involved and how the local community's role will be crucial in determining whether funding is secured over the next number of months.

"The CCTV Scheme is a two pronged application for those towns or communities who are interested in submitting an application. Some of these towns are fortunate enough to be allocated funding to carry out a feasibility study of which Ballymahon has been granted nearly €4,500. The town is by no means guaranteed to be allocated funds in the second stage as there are numerous other towns across the country competing as well. Tonight is the first step on that road because the first thing they (Department of Justice) look for is public consultation," he remarked.

Longford County Councillor, Barney Steele and Mick Cahill raised questions over the eventual cost and the monitoring of the cameras while concerns over whether the introduction of CCTV equipment would have a negative impact on the town's garda presence were also voiced.

Ballymahon Garda Sergeant, Brian Monaghan defended the number of gardaí currently in the town and insisted the presence of cameras in and around the town would prove invaluable.

"Since my arrival here, we have introduced a further member here meaning that there are now four gardaí and a sergeant in Ballymahon. It's the strongest it's ever been in 20 years, so from that point of view there is a greater presence.

"It's positive too that these people who are sitting at this top table and those who are down below are taking an interest in the town from a security point of view. This is the first step and from my experience in other areas, these cameras would be very beneficial to a town like Ballymahon," Sgt Monaghan claimed.

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