THE gauntlet has been thrown down to local businesses to secure the future of closed circuit television in Skipton.

The Craven Community Safety Partnership has secured Home Office funding of £128,000 towards the capital costs of setting up seven cameras in the town centre.

But it now has to persuade local businesses to pledge an annual figure of £14,000 to pay for the running and maintenance costs.

Acting partnership chairman Andy Parker is sending a letter to all local businesses asking for support, and where necessary copies will be sent to a shop's head office.

In the past, community efforts such as the Christmas lights have hit a stumbling block, with some of the large chain stores refusing to contribute.

The letter states that securing Home Office funding is a major coup in the district's ongoing battle to crackdown on crime.

It continues: "There will be many enhanced benefits to all businesses in the town centre.

"It is a well known fact that towns without any form of CCTV coverage are regarded as prime and easy targets by the criminal elements among society, particularly organised gangs.

"CCTV can and does help in apprehending marauding gangs, providing a safer shopping and parking environment, and inhibiting drunk and disorderly behaviour."

The proposed cameras will cover local car parks, as well as the High Street, Sheep Street, Newmarket Street, Swadford Street, and Keighley Road.

They will hopefully be operational by September.

Already, Craven District Council, North Yorkshire Police, Skipton Town Council, Skipton Building Society, Skipton Chamber of Trade and Commerce, British Waterways and Skipton Market Traders Association have pledged significant funds towards the installation costs.

"Now comes the crunch," writes Mr Parker. "We have a commitment to find the year-on-year revenue funding to keep the system in operation.

"This involves an annual cost in excess of £42,000, much of which has been pledged by the partnership and Craven District Council. However we need support from all businesses covered by the system to raise the final £14,000 to ensure full surveillance.

"By doing so, you will be helping to make Skipton a much safer place for both the local community and visitors. In short, you will be seen to be putting something back into the local community which supports you.

"We've done our bit to secure CCTV for Skipton - it is now up to you to secure its continuance in the future."

The Craven Herald is backing the initiative, and has agreed to publish the names of all contributors.

So far they include: Craven Community Safety Partnership, Craven District Council, North Yorkshire Police, Skipton Building Society, Skipton Town Council, British Waterways, Skipton Market Traders Association, Skipton Chamber of Trade, Bradford and Bingley Building Society, Slaters, George Fisher, Wright Wine Company, Craven Pharmacy, Pottery and Pine, Thomas's, Craven Herald, Fractions, David Goldie, C and H Brown, and Sunwin House.

Pledges of support have also been received from Craven Neighbourhood Watch Group, and Skipton and Craven Action for Disability (SCAD).

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.