FEARS have been raised over plans to axe the district’s public CCTV system and cut community warden numbers in half to save over £1m.

The proposal from Inverclyde Council officials, which is going out for public consultation after Christmas, has alarmed local businesses and politicians.

Jim Robertson, who owns the Kempock Bar in Gourock’s Kempock Street — which is covered by CCTV — thinks cutting cameras would be unwise.

He said: “The CCTV is a good deterrent.

“It makes people feel secure and I wouldn’t like it if they took it away.

“I think it’s a bad idea.”

Councillor Chris McEleny and MSP Stuart McMillan are campaigning against the cuts.

They say CCTV and the community wardens are a vital weapon against crime and are outraged at proposals to cut the services.

Mr McEleny said: “People accept that CCTV does reduce crime.

“It’s a deterrent.

“People are less likely to commit crime if they know they are being watched.”

Cllr McEleny also says that wardens are vital as they provide evidence to help prosecute criminals.

He told the Telegraph: “The community wardens have cameras on their bodies that help to gather evidence.”

Mr McMillan added: “People feel a lot safer with the CCTV system in place.

“The CCTV and the community wardens both help to keep Inverclyde a safe place.”

Councillors will have to decide soon which cuts to make as the local authority faces a funding gap of £13m and Cllr McEleny has urged people to take part in the upcoming consultation and make their views known.

He said: “People shouldn’t wake up one day and think ‘where have our services gone?’.

“The services are under threat.”

A council spokesman says nothing will be set in stone until they get feedback from the public.

He said: “A range of saving proposals have been developed by officers.  

“No decisions have been taken on budget savings and councillors have agreed that these be issued for public consultation.

“The consultation is planned to take place in January 2018 after the council has confirmation of the grant settlement offer from the Scottish Government.”