BUSINESSES in South Woodford say their trade will suffer if new CCTV cameras are used to cash in on drivers breaking petty parking rules.
The news that a series of closed circuit television cameras will be installed around George Lane and the High Road has been received with mixed feelings, as traders fear they could be used to target their customers.
Elsewhere in Redbridge, cameras and a modified spy car are already being used to catch out motorists flouting traffic laws, but the two South Woodford roads make up the largest retail area in the borough not currently kitted out with the covert equipment.
Chairman of the South Woodford Business Partnership Kerk Davies said: "I don't see the area as being hugely crime ridden so I'm slightly suspicious of the motives.
"It's a proven crime prevention measure and if it's being used for that I'm happy.
"What I would not be happy about is if they use petty parking charges to fund the CCTV.
"The questions I am asking myself is where the funding is coming from and how they're going to continue to fund it.
"There's times when people park up outside shops just to pop in and get something and I think it would affect business badly if they couldn't do that anymore."
Joe Federico from the Little Woodford Café on George Lane added: "In terms of crime we don't really get much trouble here apart from at the banks, be surely they have their own CCTV anyway.
"If they're going to use it to catch people parking illegally then it will kill our trade and I really don't think it's needed.
"We go to the cash and carry and sometimes when we come back there's nowhere else to park apart from the yellow lines, but if we're going to get a ticket we're not going to be able to get the stuff into the shop.
"There's lots of customers who do the same and just to nip in and get a sandwich.
"It wouldn't be fair to give someone a £50 fine. It's bad enough as it is.
"They're probably just trying to raise money for the Olympics."
Juliette Nissim from Time Jewellers however, said she would welcome the new technology.
She added: "I think it's ridiculous that people don't think that it's important to have CCTV.
"Both people in the street and shop keepers should know how important it is to prevent crime, though I think it has got a lot better in this area recently."
A Redbridge Council spokeswoman denied that the cameras were being introduced to target motorists. She said: "South Woodford is the only major Town Centre in Redbridge that is not currently covered with CCTV.
"Nine new cameras will be installed from September. These CCTV cameras are not being installed to generate money from parking fines, the cameras in South Woodford are being installed for public safety and not for traffic offences and have been positioned solely with that purpose in mind.
"A report on South Woodford Town Centre will be going to area two committee on July 21.
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