PROBLEMS of anti-social behaviour at Anstey Park have led Alton Town Council to support the installation of CCTV. According to a Recreation Committee report by deputy town clerk Greg Burt, the area around the tennis courts and skate park have become subject in recent months to an escalation of antisocial activity with sacks full of glass bottles, often broken, being collected by ATC grounds staff on a near daily basis. Head groundsman John Sadler confirmed that, while the glass problem is not unique to Anstey Park, the clearing-up process is time consuming but necessary to render the area safe for the public to use. Mr Burt told members at last Wednesday's committee meeting that despite increased police visits and the recommencement of ATC's summer security patrols, there had been no let-up in the problem. The crunch had come recently when the steel bars, securing the control box for the tennis courts floodlights, had been hacksawed off to allow the lights to be turned on. ATC had also received an estimate of £4,000 to repair the weldmesh fence surrounding the courts which has suffered continued vandalism. Staff consider that a modest CCTV system, to cover the hard court area and adjoining skatepark would act as a deterrent against continued vandalism and in identifying culprits. Quotes are currently being sought for such a system which could be funded by developers' Public Open Space contributions. In agreeing to support the installation of a CCTV system, the message from councillors was clear – the cameras would give them the necessary means to impose a zero tolerance regime against antisocial behaviour and that they would use CCTV evidence to prosecute. l Following an attempted break-in which caused considerable damage to reinforced glass windows around the main entrance door, Alton Assembly Rooms is now covered by an internal and external CCTV system, provided and installed by manager, Dean Phillips. The damaged plate glass window has now been replaced by thicker, high grade safety glass.
