IN a last minute surge of activity, businesses have pledged more than £10,000 towards the installation of closed circuit television in Skipton town centre.

The support has been spearheaded by the small retailers, but it is hoped the larger stores will still come forward with promises of financial assistance.

Craven Crime Prevention Panel is drawing up a £150,000 scheme, and will submit a bid for Government funding next week.

The district council has already promised £29,000 and North Yorkshire Police have said they will contribute £29,000 to the scheme.

But the panel also has to secure £30,000 in private sector funding to show that the initiative has the backing of the local community.

And, last Thursday, members of Skipton's Chamber of Trade doubled the amount raised so far - in less than 10 minutes.

PC Alan Atkins attended their meeting, and warned them that without private funding Skipton's chances of acquiring CCTV would slip away.

He spoke of the benefits of the camera surveillance and how it had cut crime in every town where it had been installed.

"This is something which will clearly benefit Skipton in general and traders in particular," said chamber secretary Robin Moule.

The individual pledges, plus more than £1,000 from chamber funds, doubled the amount raised before the meeting.

It has been followed up by another grant of £1,000 from Skipton Market Traders Association.

Some of their members attended the meeting and reported back to the association which came up with the money.

And a further £1,000 has been promised by members of Skipton Rotary Club.

"Streetsafe has clearly struck home with the businesses of Skipton, who pay for the costs of crime through losses and damage to property," said crime prevention panel chairman Janet Gott.

The scheme has also won the backing of the local MP David Curry, a former local government minister.

He told the Herald this week: "I think it is a very good bid, and I will be doing everything that I can to promote it.

"Craven is the only police division in North Yorkshire which does not have CCTV. It is vitally important that people coming into Skipton feel safe."

A recent crime survey showed that people were reluctant to visit the town at night because of the fear of crime.

Of the 121 people interviewed, 41 per cent said they did not visit Skipton at night, and 94 per cent said they would feel safer if CCTV was installed.

Anyone wanting to make a pledge should contact Caroline Taukulis on 01756 706214.

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