AN EXPANSION and upgrade of the CCTV network across the New Forest has been signed off by council leaders.

New Forest District Council is investing £145,000 to install an additional 21 cameras in rural and urban locations.

The project is supported by a further £33,448 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets fund.

Cllr Dan Poole, portfolio holder for community, safety and wellbeing, said he was delighted to bring the proposals before colleagues at a cabinet meeting on August 7. 

He said: “It received unanimous support at the housing and communities panel week before last and it’s an excellent news story with us expanding to areas, particularly rural areas which haven’t had coverage before, so I’m very very happy about that and fully support it.”

Richard Knott, strategic director for housing and communities, said extensive work had been done on selecting the new locations in eight towns and villages.

All sites complied with Information Commissioner’s Office regulations.

The council currently operates 56 cameras across the district.

Mr Knott said the council’s overall £300,000 capital budget for the project allowed for a second phase to upgrade 29 existing analogue cameras to digital capability after the new camera sites were up and running.

He told councillors this would reduce the annual network costs linked with the transmission of footage from the cameras to the control room at the Appletree Court headquarters.

Cllr Jeremy Heron, portfolio holder for finance and corporate, said there was a clear methodology to selecting the new camera sites and it was an “outstanding outcome” for the district.

A cabinet report said that in 2023, the council’s CCTV system had been directly involved in footage of more than 750 recorded offences, with a further 300 so far this calendar year.

The new CCTV locations will be at the following locations:

  • Bransgore (one new camera): Ringwood/Betsy Lane
  • Brockenhurst (three): Lymington Road near to the railway station, Brookley Road/Rhinefield Road, Brookley Road/opposite Fibbard Road
  • Fawley (five): Gan Warily Recreation Ground, Hampton Lane/Blackfield Road, Fawley Village Centre, Long Lang in Holbury, St George’s Hall/Calshot
  • Fordingbridge (four): Roundhill car park (two), High Street/Shaftesbury Street, Bridge Street.
  • Lyndhurst (two): High Street/Gosport Lane/Southampton Road, High Street/Romsey Road
  • New Milton (three plus an additional one funded by the town council): Station Road by the railway bridge, Ashley Recreation Ground (two), New Milton Recreation Ground
  • Ringwood (one): Christchurch Road roundabout/Wellworthy Way
  • Totton (two): Nutshalling Close in Calmore, Salisbury Road opposite Testwood Recreation Ground