TOWN and community councils have been approached by a crime prevention charity for funding help.

Holywell Town Council clerk Jason Baker told members at their monthly meeting that a letter received from OWL Cymru on behalf of charity CEO Densie Edwards explains the organisation’s services and facilities - which the town council has been involved with for several years - is struggling with funding.

He adds that a request has come forward to all 34 town and community councils in the county to appeal for financial assistance or OWL could potentially wind down if it is not secured soon.

Cllr Barry Scragg called the situation an “absolute disgrace” and said this request “is another further indication of public expenditure cuts over the years”.

He added: “If you go through the OWL alerts every so often, it is plain to see that it is how stolen items have been found more quickly and how people committing crimes are identified and caught faster. It really is a first-class service and it works both ways.

“I get where OWL is coming from, I think it should carry on and that we should consider supporting it but it grieves me to see it as another burden that has fallen on town and community councils. It is a police matter and the police budget should not be cut that much that it has come to this. It’s an absolute disgrace.”

Cllr Ian Hodge added: “My wife and I have been members of OWL for a long time and it is a very good service. I would suggest if we are going to continue with it we should make it plain to them (OWL) that we want to transmit the information through our website or forwarded onto our social media channels to ensure that these alerts we are sent are being seen by the people of Holywell as part of an agreement - should we decide to follow the request up.”

Mr Baker recapped the donations proposed – which stood at £350 for the OWL system of alerts, up to £150 for providing a community event or a package deal of £650 with includes the alert system and three community events.

He says that an alternative solution put forward would be asking the public who use the service for a fee to receive the OWL alert updates but no specific figure was estimated in the letter.

The clerk added that the proposed prices were based on the assumption that all town and community councils in Flintshire would participate. Therefore, if some do not decide to support the scheme then the cost will likely increase on supporting councils, he suspects.

This uncertainty caused some concerns with senior councillors Rosetta Dolphin and Ted Palmer.

Cllr Dolphin said: “We have not got an open wallet so unless we know some sort of idea I do not see how we can back this right now. If we say, ‘Yes we are prepared - as long as we are prepare to continue based on these figures’.”

Cllr Palmer added: “I suggest that we put forward a desire to find out more information and make a decision closer to the time. In summary, I think we should put forward that we have a desire to partake in the final scheme, once we know what the final scheme is and cost commitments.”

Members asked that the request for further financial details was sent back to OWL for their consideration but indicated that they would be interested in the final scheme, pending the final costs.