AFTER three years of complaints from families, the Council has confirmed suspicions that the CCTV system on Redbridge’s largest estate is ‘obsolete’.

People on the Orchard estate in Woodford Green have fought a long running battle to get the system upgraded amid claims that hardly any of the 35 cameras on the estate work.

In December 2009, Redbridge Homes refused a request made by the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act to disclose how many, if any, of the cameras function properly.

But, in a letter received by residents on the estate this week, Redbridge Homes says it is now ready to begin a competitive tendering process to find a contractor to replace the system.

The letter, signed by Grant Woods of the Home Ownership Team, says: “The existing CCTV system does not function properly and is now obsolete.”

A consultation will now take place with residents, as long as 25 percent of them express an interest before June 18.

Jim Brennan who lives in Liston Way on the Orchard Estate said: “The only cameras that work on this estate are the ones outside the Redbridge Homes office.

“Everyone knows that, and this is as close as we will get to them admitting it.

“They need to send the cameras that are here to the Antiques Roadshow.”

The Council’s Chief Housing Officer Lisa Marston was due to address a Council Committee meeting in March on plans for a £150,000 overhaul of the system.

But she failed to attend, prompting Cabinet member for Housing, Cllr Robin Turbefield, to issue a public apology to residents of the estate.

Cllr Turbefield said today (May 16) it was unlikely any work on replacing the CCTV system would begin until after Christmas when work is due to begin on an £11million energy saving scheme for the estate.

He would not say how many cameras on the estate still worked.

But he added: “I have guaranteed residents that a new system will be in place before the end of the coming financial year.

“It will be linked to the central control system in Ilford.

“Some of the cameras on the estate do still work, but we are aware this work needs doing.”

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