Key sites across Lye have been confirmed for new state of the art CCTV cameras as part of a £1.7 million safety programme.

Seven sites have been chosen to give maximum coverage for the cameras and work will start on installation in the next few weeks.

There will be three cameras on the bypass and three in the High Street.  A seventh will also be added to cover the Clinic Drive area. Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member responsible for community safety, said:

"I am delighted we have been able to continue rolling out this vital piece of work despite the national restrictions. There will be seven cameras in Lye, at locations carefully chosen following detailed analysis of the area and information from police.

"We want to make our town centres are as safe as possible which will be a huge boost to shoppers and traders."

Over the past few months the old, outdated system has been replaced with new state-of-the-art cameras capable of more detailed images and evidence gathering. Town centres in Halesowen, Dudley, Stourbridge and Brierley Hill are now complete. Other areas have also been added to the programme of work including Sedgley town centre and Castle Gate and Coronation Gardens, in Dudley.

The scheme is the biggest overhaul of closed-circuit cameras in the council’s history and replaces the old cameras, which suffered repeated breakdowns and costly repairs. It is being done in partnership with police and gives much clearer images of sites which can help in catching and prosecuting offenders.

A new high-tech, highly secure control room is being built as part of the plans and discussions are underway to add traffic cameras to the programme of work.