A MULTI-MILLION pound enhancement scheme has come in over half a million under budget leaving the council with cash to spare for extra CCTV.

The Loughton Broadway Town Centre Enhancement Scheme ended up costing £514,000 less than expected after it proved easier than anticipated to implement.

Epping Forest District Council is now recommending an extra £100,000 should be spent from that pot towards CCTV, although plans for a public feature in the Broadway have been dropped after Essex County Council refused to maintain it.

Chairman of Loughton Broadway Town Centre Partnership Dave Stannard praised the recommendation.

He said: “I'm quite pleased with the Broadway at the moment, but any more CCTV would be welcomed. There has been Anti-Social Behaviour, and the police are looking into it.”

He criticised the withdrawn promised of an amenity adding: “They did promise us a feature like a statue. It's a bit petty they're not going to. We could have polished it once a month if we had too.”

Councillors are due to vote on the issue at the next cabinet meeting to be held on Monday, February 1, at 7pm.