SECURITY cameras could monitor traffic coming in and out of Lyme Regis, if new council and police proposals are approved.

Lyme Regis Town Council and Dorset Police want to install lamppost-mounted automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at key routes in to and out of the town.

Dorset Police Alliance ANPR manager Ray Storey was due to speak at a meeting of the town council's town management and highways committee last night about the plans (Wednesday, November 15).

If approved, the proposals could see the cameras – which identify vehicles of police interest by scanning their number plates – fitted to lampposts in three locations.

The Dragons Hill turning on the A3052 and points close to the Somers Road and Clappentail Lane junctions off Sidmouth Road in Lyme Regis, and close to the Talbot Arms pub in Lyme Road, Uplyme have been mooted as possible locations for the cameras.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "While offering additional safety and security to local residents, the cameras will alert the Dorset Police control room to any vehicle which might have come to police attention, allowing officers to respond if necessary.

"They would also enable officers to carry out investigations into vehicle movements following incidents. In addition they would offer a multitude of details such as traffic flow volumes, peak times for particular types of vehicle, or for example to assist in identifying an HGV vehicle which may have entered the town and damaged historic buildings."

Matt Adamson-Drage, operations manager at the town council, added: "The council decided that it would like to increase its security and crime prevention measures in the town during this financial year, and has allocated £30,000 from its budget to do so.

"Councillors on the committee will need to agree to the plans, and they will then go to full council for approval.

"We have approached three companies for quotes for the supply, installation and maintenance of the cameras for the first five years."

If the plans go ahead the cameras could be in operation as early as Easter next year.

Mr Storey said: "“ANPR is an invaluable tool in the campaign to make our communities safer.

“By targeting criminals through their use of the roads the police will be better able to enforce the law, prevent crime and detect offenders and at the same time, increase casualty reduction by removing unsafe vehicles and drivers from our roads, particularly uninsured vehicles or those known to be being driven illegally.”