Mayo councillors raise concerns over absence of CCTV cameras near bus stop

A CASTLEBAR councillor has raised concerns that there is no CCTV located close to the main bus stop in the Mayo county town.

Fine Gael councillor Ger Deere asked for CCTV to be installed to overlook the bus stop on Stephen Garvey Way which he said is one of the busiest areas in Castlebar.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District, Cllr Deere claimed that gardaí investigating a recent alleged assault at the location were unable to rely on CCTV footage to determine what happened as there is none covering the street.

Cllr Deere said that with so many people coming in and out of town on the buses, it was important that there is a camera covering the area.

“We have so many transient people using the bus coming into town and moving on and to think we have no CCTV up there. We have to seriously look at it. There is a pole for it but there is nothing on it,” he said.

“That is an area where hundreds of people use every day and there should be a camera. If there was an incident downtown someone could get on the bus and off and then you are relying on shop cameras. It is an ideal spot to catch people and we need to seriously look at it,” he told the meeting.

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His party colleague, Cllr Donna Sheridan also raised the issue of CCTV at the meeting and called for a camera to be erected near Marsh House on the Newport Road.

She explained that people congregate drinking under the bridge and it can be 'uncomfortable and worrying for people walking at night'.