Marine Gardens CCTV petition presented to MEA Council

A petition calling for the installation of CCTV at Carrick’s Marine Gardens was this week presented to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
Jim McCaw from the PUP and Councillor Cheryl Johnston with the petition calling on Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to install CCTV at Marine Gardens. INCT 39-752-CONJim McCaw from the PUP and Councillor Cheryl Johnston with the petition calling on Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to install CCTV at Marine Gardens. INCT 39-752-CON
Jim McCaw from the PUP and Councillor Cheryl Johnston with the petition calling on Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to install CCTV at Marine Gardens. INCT 39-752-CON

The Progressive Unionist Party-led initiative, which has 1,000 signatures, follows recurring vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the seafront site.

It is supported by a number of Carrick councillors including Cheryl Johnston and May Beattie (DUP), John Stewart and Andrew Wilson (UUP) and Paul Sinclair (Alliance).

Cllr Stewart commented: “I have called for CCTV across the Marine Gardens facility since the early planning stages and on a number of occasions since it was opened. Referring to the petition and feedback from the public I again drew attention to the need at September’s operations committee and have been assured that council officers are now progressing this.”

Jim McMaw, the PUP representative who handed in the petition, said: “I am very pleased and grateful that a number of local councillors have taken this opportunity to work together for the good of the community, giving people hope that their voice can be heard.”

Cllr Johnston said: “As a mother of a young child, I fully support the installing of CCTV in the Marine Gardens play park.”

MEA is undertaking a review of its existing CCTV provision. This will include looking at the appropriate use of mobile units and where key assets could benefit from the installation of CCTV, examining the possibility of this being used on a permanent basis.