PUBLICANS are to be encouraged to give their views about whether CCTV is needed in Devizes.

Devizes and District Licensee Association is to invite a representative of Devizes Development Partnership (DDP) to a future Pubwatch meeting.

DDP has formed a working group and is carrying out consultation to see if CCTV is needed and costs involved.

As well as getting the views of publicans about CCTV, the move is a way of trying to boost attendance at Pubwatch meetings. Pubwatch was revived two years ago but attendance at monthly meetings held at Devizes Town Hall has dwindled recently.

At the latest meeting on Monday, four publicans and a supermarket licensee attended, as well as Simon Fisher of the town council. In September, just three licensees attended.

At Monday's meeting it was agreed that Mr Fisher, chairman of the association, would write again to all licensees in the area inviting them to Pubwatch meetings and to become members of the association.

Gary MacMartin, licensee of the Four Seasons pub, in High Street, suggested that CCTV was a hot issue for publicans and that would be a good way to attract interest in Pubwatch.

Mr MacMartin, who has spent thousands of pounds installing a CCTV system in his pub, said: "There's no CCTV in the town and we do feel there should be. The number of police officers is limited. Maybe that is why not many publicans turn up because they feel that they cannot change anything."

Insp Peter Bowerbank of Devizes police said: "Pubwatch needs a catalyst to gain interest. CCTV is the hot issue at the moment. DDP has got the ball rolling again and it might be an idea to get them involved with the licensees."

Mr Fisher agreed to ask DDP to attend a future meeting. Mr Fisher said of the low attendance at Pubwatch meetings: "We started off with great potential. I expected it to drop off a bit during the summer but the numbers are waning rapidly.

"We need to encourage more licensees to join. If nobody or just a few turn up at the next meeting in November we will know we are flogging a dead horse."

The next meeting of Pubwatch will be on Monday November 1 at 3pm at Devizes Town Hall.