Extra spy cameras are being installed on historic Council-owned buildings across the district to catch and deter lead thieves.
Efforts to protect treasured buildings are being stepped up in response to a spate of lead thefts, including an incident that forced one of the district’s gems to shut its doors to the public until February.
Keighley’s Cliffe Castle will remain closed until February 5 after rain poured through gaps created by “mindless vandals” who ripped lead from the roof.
The museum is just one of a number of Council-owned heritage sites that has been targeted by lead thieves, running up bills of thousands of pounds.
Now, in a bid to beat the thieves, about £20,000 worth of CCTV systems are being fitted to buildings across the district.
The Council did not wish to provide a list of buildings where spy cameras are being fitted for fear of tipping off would-be thieves as to where lead is present and which buildings are not covered by CCTV.
Luckily, none of Cliffe Castle museum’s valuable collections have been damaged, but the lead thefts have left significant structural damage to the building making it unsafe for visitors.
Bradford Council has already started to make security improvements on the roof and is now restoring the inside, where historic plaster ceilings were ruined by flood water.
In a bid to stop more thefts, any leftover lead work is now being replaced with a lead substitute.
Councillor, the Reverend Paul Flowers, the Council’s Executive Member for Culture, hit out at the “thoughtless vandals” He said: “We have all been saddened by the results of these thoughtless acts of vandalism but are putting our efforts into getting the museum up and running again.
“We have more than 65,000 visitors a year and we do not want to disappoint our loyal audience in this way. However the building must be made safe and restored to its former state.
“We thank the public for all their letters of support during this difficult time. People must be re-assured that none of the collections were damaged as a result of the incidents.”
Museum bosses are hoping to reopen a section of Cliffe Castle on February 5 when visitors can see the Good Start exhibition showcasing local student art talent from the area.
Phil Holmes who is the Council’s CCTV Manager, said: “This will prevent the thefts which cost us large sums of money, not just because of the cost of the repairs, but because resulting water damage can run into thousands of pounds.”
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