PROPOSALS to reduce Newport city centre's CCTV service leaving it unmanned during the day met with opposition from councillors yesterday.

Members of Newport Council’s environment and community safety overview and scrutiny forum discussed a report into the city’s CCTV system, arising from the council’s 2011/12 budget proposals.

At a meeting in July, the forum set up a task group to look into the issue of CCTV, which is a discretionary service provided and funded by the council.

The group concluded that savings of £125,000, could be made by reducing the time the system is manned to an 11-hour shift between 5pm and 4am.

The remainder of the time the system would be un-manned, but images would still be recorded and available to view.

The proposals would also mean six staff are no longer needed. Newport Council community safety manager Richard Winfield told the meeting it was not yet clear whether the six people would be relocated to other roles or face redundancy.

Cllr Allan Morris said: "We have a dying town centre. We have people who will openly tell you that it feels hostile when you go there. There is no way in a million years that I’m going to support this.

"This is not going to help the city centre one iota. It goes against every direction that the council seems to be trying to go in to encourage people into the city centre which is dying in front of our eyes."

Cllr Angela Jones, who lead the task group, said she did not think the fact Newport city centre had CCTV was something that attracted people into the city. She added that it was hoped police would help to pick up any shortfall caused by the shift cuts.

Cllr Ray Truman said: "A lot of people are nervous about what this means to the city centre. We are talking about six people here possibly losing their jobs and I'm not going to nod my head to that.

"I can't share Cllr Jones's optimism that the police will pick up the short fall. They don't have the man power. The only uniformed people we see in the city centre are the community safety wardens. As long as the wardens are there, then the police are not there."

Forum members vote four to three to refuse to support the recommendation, which will now go back to environment and community safety cabinet member Cllr William Routley for consideration.

Cllr Routley said the meeting was part of the consultation process and cabinet would make a decision in due course.