MERKINCH residents and businesses have raised a splendid £5000 towards the cost of installing CCTV cameras in the area.

A bid was lodged in November with the Scottish Executive and people in the area are confident of a positive response. A result is expected by March., and it is hoped the system will be in place by October

The total cost of putting in the three cameras and associated equipment – in Grant Street and Chapel Street – is £55,000 and the operating and maintenance costs are estimated at £6000 over five years, which would be added to the £36,000 cost of maintaining the town centre CCTV system. If the bid wins through, the Scottish Executive will contribute £27,500 towards the project under their “Make Our Communities Safer” Challenge Competition. Merkinch Community Council has also donated £1000 towards the scheme, Grant Street Traders Association have pledged £4000, and a further £5000 is expected from a large Inverness firm. Inverness & Nairn Enterprise is set to donate £8750, and Highland Council have pledged the same amount.

Eastgate manager Captain Eric Milne, who was involved with the application, said, “The work and determination of the people of Merkinch has been wonderful. They are very community-minded, and determined to see the cameras in place.

Jim Smith of Clach Shoe Repairs, secretary of Grant Street Traders, is delighted people power has resulted in such a strong case being put forward for the scheme. “It will be good if people can begin to feel safer walking home through the streets at night.”