CCTV coverage in Dursley is set to drastically improve, say the town council in the wake of a series of attacks by vandals.

The improvements, which will mainly target the centre of the town follow an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area, with a number of complaints having been made by businesses affected.

Dursley town clerk John Kay, told the Gazette that the improvements are something the council has been looking at for an extended period of time.

“A number of people have come to us about it,” he said. “There is definitely a request from the public for new CCTV and we at the council also feel that an update to the system is necessary.

“We want to increase coverage in the centre, namely under the town hall and other poorly lit areas. We will also be getting CCTV at the recreational ground and in the new car park also.”

Among the businesses to be affected in recent weeks are fabric shop Inches, Italian restaurant Della Casa, and eatery Mezzé at the King’s Head, all on Parsonage Street, who were attacked overnight on May 5.

CCTV has proven useful in such instances after footage was captured of a failed early hours break-in attempt on Clifton Cameras on the same street.

When speaking about the potential changes to the coverage, Mr Kay revealed that talks were underway with contractors.

“We have a meeting later this week with a contractor. In this meeting we will discuss the changes and whether we can improve our coverage.”

There are currently no cameras in the town under ownership of the council but the new proposal is expected to provide seven-to-nine new cameras, which will provide continuous CCTV coverage.

The update to the system is expected to cost a fee in the region of £7,000 to the council, and should be implemented by the end of the calendar year.

Inches owner Caroline Marrow, who had more than £1,000 of damage caused in the attack on her shop earlier this month, said she feels the changes could help to stop further damage being caused by similar incidents in the future.

“I certainly think an improvement would deter people and help police to identify those in the images,” she said. “One of the reasons that we couldn’t identify the people who attacked my shop was because of the grainy images from the cameras.

“I am part of the Dursley Business Inclusive, and we meet the local council monthly. We expressed our disappointment at the quality of the film, and that may have prompted them to make this decision.

“I think it will be good. Definitely if people know they are on film, then they are more likely to moderate or change their own behaviour.”