A SCHEME has been drawn up for a network of CCTV cameras to keep a close eye on crime and disorder in two west Oxfordshire towns.

Both Carterton and Chipping Norton would be linked in to the existing control room at Witney police station, which already monitors more than 20 cameras around Witney town centre.

But it comes at a price, with both Carterton and Chipping Norton town councils being asked to stump up £15,000 each in annual running costs.

In Carterton, town councillors agreed in principle to the scheme at a meeting last week, but asked for talks over the cost to residents through their local council taxes.

Town mayor Phil Scott said he had been championing the case for cameras in the town centre for many years.

"When it first came up, I was the only one in favour, but now it seems to have general agreement," he said.

"We have asked the town clerk, Janet Eustace, to sort out the costs in detail.

"They do say cameras are another policeman on the streets. In Carterton we get a lot of criminal damage, and just a few weeks back we had a nasty fight where a man ended up in hospital.

"CCTV cameras can also help save lives if someone is spotted falling down in the street with a heart attack or an accident."

Witney is the only town in the district with fixed cameras. Police said since 2001 it has resulted in the arrest of more than 1,300 people for a variety of offences.

It is managed 24 hours a day by staff at Witney police station and has annual running costs of £192,100, shared between the district council (£89,900), Thames Valley Police (£84,200), Witney Town Council (£10,000), and local retailers (£8,000).

Extending the scheme to the district's two other main towns would involve three to four fixed cameras in each town.

The capital costs of about £130,000 can be found, but both towns would have to put in £15,000 each for running costs, said Bill Oddy, the district council's head of community services.

Mr Oddy added that recent surveys showed CCTV had popular support.

He said: "The scheme has significant support, 93 per cent of the public support CCTV in Witney, and 69 per cent feel safer as a result of its introduction."

In Chipping Norton, town councillors considered the new initiative at a meeting last week.

Vanessa Oliveri, town clerk, said: "Nothing has been set in concrete. It is very expensive, but it does a job. We will be having further discussions about the costs."