Felixstowe is set to get a significant upgrade to its CCTV network, with East Suffolk Council announcing plans in December 2025 to replace 15 ageing cameras and install eight brand new ones across the town. If both East Suffolk Council and Felixstowe Town Council give the green light, work could begin in early 2026.
The eight new camera locations include Sea Road, Langer Park, Hamilton Road, Felixstowe Library, and the town's railway station — sites identified by Suffolk Constabulary as priority areas based on reported incidents and anti-social behaviour patterns. The existing 15 cameras, many of which are outdated, would be replaced with modern high-definition units capable of providing clearer footage for police investigations.
The total cost of the works is estimated at around £97,500. Felixstowe Town Council would contribute approximately £42,000 of that, with East Suffolk Council covering the remainder. On top of the installation costs, ESC has committed to funding 24/7 monitoring at an annual revenue cost of roughly £40,500 — a significant ongoing commitment that reflects the seriousness with which the councils are treating town centre safety.
Cllr Paul Ashton, Deputy Leader of East Suffolk Council, said the proposals had been designed to "meet the needs of the town" and would allow for "immediate and direct liaison with the police to ensure live incidents are responded to." He added that footage could be used in investigations and prosecutions, giving the scheme a practical deterrent function as well as a reactive one.
The announcement wasn't entirely without controversy. Cllr Ashton expressed frustration that a section of the town council had publicly campaigned for the scheme before the formal proposals had been presented — something he described as "genuinely disappointing." The politics aside, most residents and businesses in Felixstowe have welcomed the news. For a town that has seen its share of late-night disorder in recent years, a modern, monitored CCTV network feels like a sensible investment.
