CCTV street cameras in Navan by winter

Navan's long-awaited CCTV system is expected to be up and running by Christmas after the Garda Commissioner recently signed off on the scheme that will see nine cameras installed throughout the town. The project is being led by Navan Chamber of Commerce, supported by Navan Town Council and An Garda Siochana, and will cost approximately €185,000 to install. Funding of €100,000 has been allocated by An Pobal, which administers the grants for the Department of Justice, and the balance will be paid by Navan Town Council. It is hoped that the CCTV will help in the prevention and detection of crime and antisocial behaviour in the town. The application was first made for CCTV in 2007 and Navan was announced as one of the towns which had been successful in 2008. Michael Cassidy of Navan Chamber of Commerce said that the Garda Commissioner has now signed off on the scheme and Pobal is doing its final evaluation of the work programme before issuing the contract. Mr Cassidy said the process has been ongoing for some time and they hoped to get the go-ahead to commence work in the next couple of months. He said it was a "long drawn-out process". The Chamber of Commerce had been leading the project with An Garda Siochana and Navan Town Council, and the approval was welcomed by all involved. He said the CCTV would be of huge benefit to the town and the general public and that it had been very successful in any town where it had been installed. The CCTV cameras will be located at the Kennedy Road footpath outside the Navan Town Centre entrance, at the Trimgate Street and Kennedy Road intersection, on the island at Market Square, at the N3/Meath Chronicle intersection, at the Church Hill/Ludlow Street junction, at the Railway Street roundabout, the Trimgate Street/Railway Street intersection, at the Navan Garda Station roundabout on Kennedy Road and at the N3 shopping centre junction. Navan's Mayor, Cllr Phil Brennan, congratulated the Chamber of Commerce, Gardai and the town council for getting the application this far and said the CCTV would help alleviate crime in the town and be a deterrant. "It is one of the best things that has happened in the town and it will give people more confidence to walk around later at night knowing there is surveillance 24/7," said the mayor. Meath County Councillor Tommy Reilly has also welcomed the news. He said he had contacted Justice Minister Dermot Ahern about Navan's application and that the minister had written to the Garda Commissioner who had now given the scheme the go-ahead. "Hopefully, we will have it up and running before Christmas. There will be nine cameras at flashpoints for antisocial bheaviour in the town and where there are alleyways," said Cllr Reilly. He added that there would be cameras near the two ATM machines at Market Square, which was to be welcomed following a number of recent incidents where people were accosted at the ATM machines.