Villagers are being asked to focus their attention on the issue of CCTV for their vandal-hit community.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Vandalism has triggered a call for CCTV at the Edgar Tennant Recreation Ground in StationRoad, Ormesby Photo: Liz CoatesVandalism has triggered a call for CCTV at the Edgar Tennant Recreation Ground in StationRoad, Ormesby Photo: Liz Coates (Image: Archant)

A public consultation has been launched in Ormesby St Margaret with a view to putting a camera at the Edgar Tennant playing field and pavilion - the home of Ormesby Lads.

Posters have been put up at key sites and the infant and junior schools informed.

Parish councillor Christine Lee said the idea of having a camera as a deterrent and recorder of crime was a complex issue.

Because it was public land with wide access the council needed to find out if it had local support.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Vandalism has triggered a call for CCTV at the Edgar Tennant Recreation Ground in StationRoad, Ormesby Photo: Liz CoatesVandalism has triggered a call for CCTV at the Edgar Tennant Recreation Ground in StationRoad, Ormesby Photo: Liz Coates (Image: Archant)

The system would be monitored by the local authority whose members would have special training, but the football club was willing to pay for the equipment.

She said the evidence as to what had been going on at the field was anecdotal and that there were no figures to say how many crimes were going on or could be prevented, although they were hoping to obtain some from the police.

But bins had been set on fire, there had been some vandalism, reports of drinking and smoking, and someone had claimed syringes had been found in nearby woodland.

“It will be an awful lot of extra work but it will be worth it if we can prevent something nasty going on,” she said.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Vandalism has triggered a call for CCTV at the Edgar Tennant Recreation Ground in StationRoad, Ormesby Photo: Liz CoatesVandalism has triggered a call for CCTV at the Edgar Tennant Recreation Ground in StationRoad, Ormesby Photo: Liz Coates (Image: Archant)

“Everyone is familiar with CCTV. It’s not just the operation of it, it is more around the initial decision about whether or not to do it.

“We have got to balance privacy against a significant criminal threat and CCTV has got to be a proportionate response, not a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

Geoff Freeman, who has been on the council for more than 20 years, said the pavilion and car park had long been a target for vandals and flytippers.

The remote building had had its roof, windows, and rear door damaged and cameras would help to ensure its safety.

He said the public already had cameras watching their lives and that putting one on the pavilion was a sensible solution.

To comment on the proposal contact the parish clerk Lisa Callow via email ormesbyclerk@outlook.com or call 07825 266117 by June 4.