GALASHIELS councillors disagreed over the issue of CCTV in the town at a meeting earlier this month.

A consultation was run by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) in 2019 where the majority of respondents believed that CCTV was effective in fighting crime and provided a safer environment.

However, the local authority was not willing to spend the estimated £680,000 on a replacement system.

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Speaking at a community council meeting, independent Galashiels councillor Harry Scott said: “I’m quite firm of the view that this should have been taken on by the council.

“The council said it was a police responsibility for the prevention and detection of crime which is nonsense. Everyone is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime. CCTV is also a protection for council property and personal property as well so it quite squarely lies with the council.

“They’re responsible for the health and safety of the constituents. It is a council responsibility, other councils do it so I don’t see why we can’t.”

Fellow Galashiels councillor Andy Anderson, of the SNP, agreed with Mr Scott, adding that the current system “is well past its sell by date”.

However, Sandy Aitchison, said it would be “prohibitive” if the council had to cover the whole cost.

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“I support CCTV but I do believe the huge costs involved throughout the Borders would be prohibitive unless Police Scotland were willing to come and share the costs of it because community safety is not just a council responsibility, it’s a Police Scotland responsibility as well,” said the independent Galashiels councillor.

Fellow Galashiels councillor Euan Jardine, of the Conservatives, said that Scottish Government cuts meant it was “hard to find the balance” between officers on the street and CCTV.

“We asked the police about the CCTV and they said it’s just one tool, they would rather have feet on the ground,” he said. “The argument’s there for CCTV but I think it should be funded by either the Scottish Government or Police Scotland in a joint effort.

“If the council funds it we do not get any access to it at all. They’re expected to maintain it, fund it, but never see it. We are funding police on the street and that’s the most important thing we can do.”