A GROUP of about 70 retailers has denounced plans to install police-monitored CCTV cameras in Kidderminster crime and disorder hotspots.

Scheme manager of Kidderminster Retail Initiative and Safety Programme Rosalyn Darby demanded an explanation as to why cameras targeted anti-social behaviour and crime in and around nightclubs rather than town centre shops.

And she accused Wyre Forest District Council of "jumping on the band wagon" and passing off a scheme KRISP offered to pay for two years ago as its own.

"I just want to know why they don't just cover the town centre - if they have so much trouble outside nightclubs why don't they pay for it?" she said.

And she urged people who supported retailers' objections to attend a meeting at Kidderminster Town Hall on Wednesday, October 29.

However, leader of the council Howard Martin dismissed allegations the council had jumped on the band wagon as "petty" - and said the initiative was not about scoring points but making the streets of Kidderminster safe.

He added the £130,000 scheme - which is being funded by West Mercia Police, the Home Office and Kidderminster Town Centre Partnership - was in its early stages and would expand with further investment.

But Ms Darby, security manager at The Swan Centre, said: "The police come to us because we have a private CCTV scheme in the Swan Centre but it wasn't put in to look at crime and disorder taking place elsewhere in the town."

She added she believed the scheme - which should be up and running from next April and includes seven cameras in sites including the corner of Castle Road and Park Lane, Paddington House at the junction of New Road and Castle Road and Roma Pets in New Road - was over-priced.

"They're targeting trouble at night clubs but they're only open about 18 hours a week - so what are these cameras going to be doing for the other 150 hours a week?" she asked.

"And pubs in the town aren't being covered.

"We offered to put four cameras in the town centre in 2001/2002 to be monitored by volunteers but the council said 'hang on' - and since then they've jumped on the bandwagon and said 'we can do this'."

She also demanded an explanation of how stores in Kidderminster would be notified of any dangers from Bromsgrove.

"It's alright them saying they have a link but if we have an incident and phone the control centre we can be waiting up to 40 minutes to get through."

Mr Martin said it was not unusual for CCTV to be monitored centrally and the actual cost of the scheme had to be put out to tender.

He added the council had to refuse a £1million offer of funding offer from the Home Office to install CCTV in 2000 due to a lack of financial support for running costs from traders.

Anyone interested in attending the meeting, which councillors and police officers have also been invited to, should contact 01562 753210.