Work has started on phase three of a major expansion of the CCTV network across Dudley borough.

Feasibility plans and designs are being drawn up for nine new cameras to extend the crime-fighting scheme.

There will be cameras at Shell Corner and Queensway, Halesowen, Toys Lane, Colleygate, Wollaston traffic island, Kent Street and Jews lane in Upper Gornal, and Netherton High Street.

The project started as a £1.7million plan to overhaul old and outdated cameras in town centres and other key locations across the borough.

But the scheme has since snowballed and includes more sites, including a highly-sophisticated control centre capable of monitoring dozens of cameras at once. Councillor Laura Taylor-Childs, cabinet member responsible for CCTV, said:

“The scheme is progressing well despite the pressure of the pandemic. I am pleased we are starting phase three by looking at what is needed and where, to ensure we have maximum coverage in these areas.

“The new network makes people feel safer as they go about their daily business by using the very best technology to monitor our borough twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.”

The old network of cameras was outdated, prone to failure and needed constant repairs. The council took to the decision in 2019 to replace the entire network with the new cameras capable of capturing detailed images over hundreds of metres.

As part of the scheme 27 traffic cameras are also being replaced.

CCTV will feature in a report to cabinet next week (Sep 23).