Dawlish's £70,000 spy in the sky CCTV system has been given the go ahead by Teignbridge planners, writes Nigel Canham. Members of the district council's development control committee voted 19-0 in favour of the scheme, which will result in five cameras going up in various locations on The Lawn and the Barton Hill and Shoppers' Car Parks. A sixth camera in Queen Street is subject to a separate application and has yet to be determined. Town clerk John Winchester told the committee that a survey of residents in 2004 had identified the town as a low crime area, but one with a growing drugs culture. He said many people didn't venture out owing to the fear of crime and that 'large and unruly groups of youngsters on The Lawn and a lack of police presence had resulted in 'streets that lack vitality'. Mr Winchester also recounted an incident in which he witnessed a man riding a motorised scooter on The Lawn, something he felt powerless to tackle. 'I was frightened of the consequences of intervention,' he said. Councillors welcomed the new scheme, and those in Bovey Tracey and Chudleigh where cameras were already having a positive effect. Teignmouth mayor and former Dawlish beat officer, Cllr Geoff Bladon, said he approved of the system but not if it was to be at the cost of the human touch. 'It must be in addition to an improved police presence not instead of it', he said, and called for a greater police presence on streets throughout Teignbridge.
