£7,000 CCTV plan approved for Randalstown site after vandalism incidents

Dunsilly Ulster Unionist councillor Stewart Wilson

Dunsilly Ulster Unionist councillor Stewart Wilson has welcomed a decision by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to approve the installation of CCTV at Neillsbrook Community Centre in Randalstown.

Cllr Wilson confirmed the decision on social media after the issue was discussed behind closed doors at a meeting at Mossley Mill on Monday evening.

Commenting online, he said:

“This is a positive step, but it’s important to remember that CCTV on its own is not a silver bullet.”

In a further post, he added: “The obsession with destroying public property baffles me — no respect given to their town.”

Earlier this month, the council’s Community Development Committee recommended that CCTV be installed at Neillsbrook Community Centre at a cost of £7,000, following “ongoing vandalism and anti-social behaviour incidents” at the facility and surrounding area.

However, the recommendation drew objections from councillors representing other district electoral areas (DEAs), particularly Ballyclare, where there have been repeated calls for CCTV in the town centre.

Ballyclare Independent councillor Michael Stewart said the toilet block in Ballyclare town centre has been vandalised “practically every month for the past five years”. He added that requests for CCTV in the area have been made “constantly” over that period.

Ballyclare Ulster Unionist councillor Vera McWilliam described the recommendation as “a done deal without discussion”, adding that when CCTV is “talked about in other places, there was a big procedure to go through”.

Threemilewater DUP councillor Mark Cooper BEM said he had never seen anything “so quick”.

A committee report stated that “the installation of CCTV at Neillsbrook Community Centre, at a total cost of £7,000, be noted”. It also revealed that the cost of repairing vandalism to the 3G pitch perimeter fencing over the past six months amounted to £1,894.

A council director told the meeting there had been a specific request to examine the issue, with CCTV considered a potential “deterrent” given the location of the building.

Antrim DUP councillor Paul Dunlop BEM proposed an amendment to designate Neillsbrook as a six-month ‘pilot’ scheme, allowing the council to assess whether there is a “significant decrease” in anti-social behaviour before considering CCTV at other locations.

A spokesperson for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said:

“Approval has been granted for CCTV installation at Neillsbrook Community Centre as part of a targeted six-month pilot to address anti-social behaviour. The cameras are intended both to deter incidents and to support the collection of evidential footage where required.

“During the pilot, officers will monitor its effectiveness, including any impact on reported incidents and overall community safety. The findings will help inform any future decisions on similar measures at other locations.

“Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council will continue to work with partners and the community to ensure any measures taken are appropriate, proportionate and evidence-based.”