Worcester’s CCTV monitoring system has been saved.

Live monitoring of Worcester's camera system was set to end in April 2010, because of a lack of cash in Worcester City Council’s coffers.

But under the new deal, monitoring will continue until next autumn, after which the city’s cameras will be watched in Pershore.

Following talks, exclusively revealed by your Worcester News on Tuesday, the council yesterday announced details of the new plan.

There are no guarantees the six highly experienced city staff will keep their jobs, however.

City council leader Simon Geraghty said yesterday the detail were “still being worked out”.

He added talks had been underway since it decided to pull the £140,000 a year funding for the system.

It is currently trying to find £4.5 million in savings over five years.

“We value CCTV and have always wanted to preserve a safe city,” he said.

“We’ve worked since last year to put together a package which will let us continue monitoring.”

The outline agreement would see existing space at Wychavon District Council’s monitoring station at Pershore’s civic centre used to monitor the city’s cameras.

This arrangement will be part-funded by the city council and West Mercia Police, through the South Worcestershire Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

The city council will write in £50,000 into its coming year’s budget to fund the new arrangement, while the police will put in a similar amount.

Coun Paul Middleborough, leader of Wychavon District Council, was unable to say if there would be any cost to Wychavon but added: “What I will say is there’s no question of Wychavon subsidising the cost of CCTV in Worcester.”

At the moment private firm Legion Security runs Wychavon’s service, but that contract ends next year and is expected to go out to tender.

According to coun Geraghty the new system would be up and running by autumn.

Meanwhile, the existing arrangement where the system is monitored from Worcester Police Station will be extended until the switch over.

Chief Superintendent Jane Horwood, who is in charge of south Worcestershire police division, said the deal was a “win-win situation for police”.

She said: “This system would be similar to many operated across the country remotely.”

Alan Stuttard, acting head of the city council’s paid service, said the new centralised system could actually make the councils money in future also adding “shared surveillance” across the city and Wychavon would benefit policing.

City MP Mike Foster, who has campaigned to keep monitoring, called the decision “a no-brainer” and said it was the “right thing to do.”

Robin Walker, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Worcester, added the outline plan was “great news”.