A PERMANENT CCTV camera is set to be installed in a Callington car park in the next few weeks in a hope to curb problems of anti-social behaviour.

Callington Town Council has agreed to fund the camera for the free car park in Saltash Road after seeing a noticeable improvement in ongoing issues when the police surveillance camera was posted there earlier in the year.

The police camera was a mobile one used in areas of need but unfortunately was moved to a location elsewhere in Cornwall not long after it arrived in Callington.

Councillor Jeremy Gist told the full council of the plans for the camera at a meeting last week.

He said: 'Power has been given to us to proceed with purchasing our own camera. We have got two quotes in, we're waiting for clarification and then we should be able to place our order. If we place the order within the next week to ten days, we should be able to have it in place within the next few weeks.

We're looking at a cost of between £8,500 to £9,000.'

Over the last few years, the car park has become a place for youngsters to meet, but unfortunately a small minority have been causing a nuisance to neighbours with loud music, hazardous driving and littering.

Town clerk Helen Dowdall said: 'Because it is an on-going issue we decided to finance our own camera at that site. When the police camera was there, there was a noticeable improvement. We want to be able to use the camera for evidence, so we are looking to get the best camera that we can afford.'

The camera will be situated on the telegraph pole that is already fixed in the car park, and will have a 360-degree pan, which will also overlook the adjacent park.

The town council has also spent money training staff to issue fixed penalty notices, and will be able to use the CCTV footage as evidence.

Cllr Gist said the permanent camera would help the town council to reduce the problem to an 'acceptable' level.