THOUSANDS of pounds from an abandoned CCTV scheme for Sidmouth will go to two good causes – plus bunting for the diamond jubilee.

The chamber of commerce has decided that �2,390 in cash that was donated to the ill-fated project and never claimed back should be used to boost the town’s civic arboretum project and Sidmouth Youth Trust.

Money will also be spent on town centre decorations to celebrate the Queen’s 60 years on the throne.

Business leaders last week ruled that the funding shouldn’t go towards Sidmouth College’s bid for its own CCTV system or Councillor Stuart Hughes’ suggestion of an interactive seafront webcam, after both had asked for a slice of the cash.

A Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce spokesman said there were “too many doubts” over the rejected proposals.

The spokesperson added: “It was agreed they [CCTV funds] should go towards the benefit of Sidmouth as a whole, encouraging people to come into town.”

Five hundred pounds will go to Sidmouth Arboretum – in addition to �500 committed to the world-first project last year.

The remainder of the sum will be split between the youth trust, the force behind the seafront Arches Caf�, and decorative jubilee bunting.

Cllr Hughes has vowed not to give up on his bid for a seafront webcam and will look at whether he can instead fund it from his county council locality budget.

He thinks the technology, like a system used in Exmouth, will both help tackle crime and boost tourism.

Exmouth’s Electrocam streams live video from the town’s seafront all year round and can be viewed, and controlled, by internet users across the globe.

“We could do exactly the same here in Sidmouth,” said Cllr Hughes. “It would promote tourism and double up as CCTV. I can see real benefits to Sidmouth.”