SECURITY cameras have finally been turned back on at a parade of shops in Pitsea.

Basildon Council announced it came up with the £1,500 needed to reinstate and monitor four CCTV cameras in Felmores End, which have been out of action since 2009.

They were switched back on recently as part of the council’s Safer Streets Campaign. Recording equipment will also be put up at the nearby Briscoe Community Centre.

Traders had called for the cameras to be brought back into use at a public meeting earlier this year.

Malcolm Buckley, Tory councillor for Wickford, who is also Basildon councillor responsible for community safety, said: “This council is committed to doing all it can to improve our neighbourhoods and this investment in CCTV is just one of the measures we are taking to make our streets safer.

“The important thing is we got the outcome business owners wanted.

“It’s a fairly small sum of money in the scheme of things, but it gives people the security and comfort of knowing that anybody up to no good is being monitored and will be tracked through the CCTV.”

One business owner, who didn’t want to be named, said it was “good news” but didn’t want to comment further.

Basildon Council, along with south Basildon and east Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe, Essex County Council and the police then worked together to make it happen.

The cameras were originally purchased, installed and monitored by Interlock, an externally funded organisation, but the cash ran out in March 2009.

The cameras have not been on since then. They were not the responsibility of Basildon Council or Essex Police, but were left up to act as a deterrent to wouldbe criminals.

Mr Metcalfe says he hopes residents and traders will now feel more secure in the area.

He said: “I’m really pleased we were able to quickly get them back up and running.

“I’m grateful to Basildon Council, Essex County Council and everyone else involved.

“CCTV plays an important role in providing both a deterrent and reassurance.