PLANS to upgrade a shopping parade's CCTV with £100,000 of savings have been given the nod by council chiefs.

Epping Forest District Council's multi-million pound scheme to enhance the Broadway, in Loughton, came in £595,000 under budget leaving money left over for further improvements to CCTV.

Loughton district councillor Ken Angold-Stephens welcomed the extra money but expressed concerns that previous proposals for an amenity feature in the Broadway could now be sidelined after Essex County Council suggested they wouldn't support its upkeep.

He said: “I'm very happy to see that money for CCTV. There's already been some improvements and it's proved hugely successful.

“We should go back to the Broadway Town Centre Partnership and ask their opinion as we don't know what amenity feature they had in mind and it's worth exploring that.”

Council leader Di Collins agreed adding: “I think it's a great pity county haven't seen fit to put this up.”

The town centre partnership will now be consulted for its opinion on the potential loss of the amenity feature.