WATCHET could become only the second town in West Somerset to have a publicly funded CCTV system.

A joint bid by West Somerset Council, Watchet Town Council and Avon and Somerset police has secured the lion's share of a £90,000 pot of cash from a community safety budget set up by police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens.

A total of £44,000 will be available towards a system likely to cost around £60,000 to set up.

But before the proposal becomes a reality, local people are being asked for their views through a questionnaire going out this week through the Free Press' sister paper the News Trader.

Residents will be asked if they support the proposal, where they think the cameras should be installed and if they agree, in principle, to the town council contributing a maximum of £3,000 to the ongoing operating costs and maintenance.

And they will be told that the aim of the CCTV system would be to prevent and detect crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as help apprehend and prosecute offenders.

Other hoped-for benefits would include public safety protection, an improved quality of life for residents and visitors and a reduction in the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour.

The questionnaire will also ask residents if they have been the victims of crime or anti-social behaviour in the last 12 months.

Town councillors endorsed the distribution of the leaflet at their annual meeting on Monday.

Cllr Peter Murphy said the opportunity was there in terms of funding but it was felt important to find out what local people felt about the proposal and the likely financial impact on the town council.

"We felt we had to try and get a feel for people's views and whether it would be welcomed, or not."

lCouncil chairman Cllr Loretta Whetlor said the scheme would not involve the town council in any capital expenditure: "It would just be revenue towards the running costs," she said.

District council community safety officer Peter Hughes told the Free Press the Watchet system would be linked to the monitoring unit in Minehead, which currently oversees 15 cameras in the town and is staffed by a part-time paid co-ordinator and police volunteers.

He said he hoped between five and six cameras could be set up in Watchet.

"We have worked really hard to get this money and we are delighted to have secured the lion's share of the budget for Watchet," said Mr Hughes.

Residents will have until June 7 to return their questionnaires, after which the issue will be debated again by town councillors and a final decision made.