Firm ordered to remove cameras in town

CONSULTANTS have been told to take down dozens of cameras installed across Weston-superMare after they were put up without permission. Local residents have been reporting seeing the cameras being installed across areas of the seaside town over the past week.

It is understood more than 30 of the cameras were fitted at locations including Locking Village and on the Weston motorway junction. Their sudden appearance sparked concerns from residents about what the cameras were for and what data they were capturing. The cameras were installed by Intelligent Data Collection who were commissioned by construction and property consultancy Norman Rourke Pryme. The devices were put in place to carry out traffic surveys and monitor the levels of traffic entering and leaving the town.

It is understood the data was to be used to inform ‘potential infrastructure improvements’ in the future. North Somerset Council says the cameras are nothing to do with the authority and were put up without permission.

The authority has now ordered the company to remove all the cameras.

A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “Since being made aware that cameras and equipment collecting traffic flow data had been put in place around Weston without council consent, our officers have been in touch with the firm responsible to ask that they are promptly removed.

“The cameras were put in place to record vehicle volumes around Weston and their direction of travel.”

Norman Rourke Pryme has been approached for comment.