TRADERS in Otley are calling for security cameras to be installed - before the town becomes known as a soft target.

Jonathan Rutter, president of the town's chamber of trade and commerce, fears the installation of closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) in other towns will mean criminals moving on to Otley.

And he is calling on Leeds City Council to install security cameras before Otley starts to suffer.

But the council says cameras are out of the question because there is no money available.

A government backed scheme that earlier this year saw £1 million awarded to Leeds for a network of security cameras - including in Horsforth- has now come to an end.

But Mr Rutter believes other sources of funding should be explored.

"Police figures and Leeds City Council figures have been used to make the case for other higher crime areas to have CCTV installed.

"While the figures at the moment can be used to argue this case, my point is that the provision of cameras elsewhere will push the criminal element towards softer targets.

"In other words, they will target towns without CCTV in the knowledge their crimes will stand less chance of being detected or prevented."

Mr Rutter, who is manager of the town's HSBC Bank, feared it would not be long before Otley's relatively low crime rate started to go up.

"My argument is that prevention is better than cure," he said.

Councillor Phil Coyne, chairman of Otley Town Partnership, said it was disappointing there was no more money available from the Home Office

But he said that money may be obtained from elsewhere - such as the Market Towns Initiative.

"I believe there is sufficient rowdiness and burglaries in the town to justify CCTV and I would certainly support it."

Coun Coyne added although it was a problem there was no more money available at this time from the government, the infrastructure - such as the monitoring station - would be in place in Leeds making it easier for Otley to be included.

With Otley being a small town, Mr Rutter believed adequate coverage could be achieved with a main camera in Manor Square and another at the junction of Boroughgate and Crossgate.

And he added: "There is already a mobile CCTV available from Otley police although it is not centrally monitored and can only be used to view activity on tape after the event. However, this could be used to counter any local hotspots not covered by the fixed camera."

In August this year Leeds City Council won a £1 million grant from the Home Office to install security cameras across the city. The scheme, which it is hoped will be up and running by October next year, will take in Horsforth which will have four cameras installed.

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: "The current funding initiatives from the government for CCTV have come to an end and there are no further bids planned."

l What do you think of Otley traders' calls for closed circuit television cameras in the centre of Otley? Would CCTV be the answer? Write with your views to Wharfedale Observer, 9 Orchard Gate, Otley LS21 3NX.