SOUTH Ayrshire Council is asking for views on CCTV cameras which operate in public places in towns across South Ayrshire.

The vast majority of cameras are either fixed on top of poles, or attached to tall buildings and can be found in Ayr, Prestwick, Troon, Maybole and Girvan.

But council bosses want to know are the cameras in the right places? Are they reassuring or intrusive? Should they be used to stop people littering and to help tackle dog fouling?

This is a chance for the public to have their say.

The Council also has a number of cameras, which can be moved to monitor specific areas for a limited period of time.

To ensure they complies with forthcoming data protection changes we need to review the location and suitability of our cameras so the views of the public and local businesses are crucial.

Councillor Peter Henderson, Resources and Performance Portfolio Holder said: “CCTV is something which can have a significant impact on our communities – detecting and preventing crime, identifying incidents of anti-social behaviour and monitoring traffic.

“The changes to data protection regulations means we have to review our cameras but it also gives us an opportunity to consult with the public and to identify if our cameras are effective and in the right places.

“I would encourage the public to have their say and think about the impact these cameras may have on their lives. They might be a reassuring presence or seen as an invasion of privacy, in either case we would like to know what you think, so please take five minutes to fill in the survey.”

To have your say on CCTV in public places and to find out where the cameras are, please complete the short survey at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/consultations The closing date for responses is Friday, March 23.