A scheme to introduce closed-circuit television cameras in Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike town centres has been drawn up by Kirklees Council.

But lack of funding is holding up the proposal, principal planning officer Stan Driver has revealed.

Shopkeepers and businesses in Cleckheaton have long called for a CCTV system to help cut crime after seeing their success in neighbouring Batley, Dewsbury and Huddersfield.

Mr Driver said: "Officers have drawn up a scheme to put seven cameras in Cleckheaton and the same number in Heckmondwike at a cost of £120,000 in each town.

"But the Council has not yet decided whether or not to go ahead with the plans because of the expense. Having more cameras would mean employing more staff to monitor them in the control room at Huddersfield. It also costs £4,000 a year per camera to operate the system. There is no point in having the cameras if we can't afford the running costs.

"In other towns we have relied on partnership funding to pay for CCTV. For Dewsbury and Huddersfield the money came from the Single Regeneration Budget funding and for Batley through the City Challenge programme.

"The Home Office has indicated more money will be available for CCTV cameras in areas with community safety partnerships like Kirklees and this could be an opportunity to bid for the funding.''

Councillor Gordon North (Lab, Spen), chairman of the Spen Valley Working Party, said: "We will be pushing for CCTV in Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike in the next financial year but there is no money available this year because the budget is over-subscribed.''

Keith Joplin, president of Spen Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: "It is critical we have CCTV cameras in Cleckheaton if we are to attract new businesses such as restaurants and caf bars.

"Businesses need to know there is some protection if they come to Cleckheaton and that customers feel comfortable. We are also worried that if crime is falling in areas with CCTV cameras, criminals will start moving into places like Cleckheaton.''

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