A DEBATE has been stirred up in Watchet over the legality of a new live-streaming webcam which has been installed on The Esplanade.

Bob Cramp of Watchet Conservation Society put up a post on social media this week alerting people to the new webcam, but said he felt like he had ‘opened Pandora’s Box’ when the post received over 100 comments.

Mr Cramp initial post stated: “The new Watchet Chamber of Trade (WACET) webcam does not block your faces, or your children’s, or your vehicle registration number.

“Are you happy about this? Or like me do you think it is a massive invasion of one’s privacy, illegal, and needs to be removed.”

The post garnered plenty of debate, however chairman of WACET, John Richards, said it was ‘a storm in a tea cup’.

“It is not CCTV camera it is a webcam, and we did thorough checks before it was installed to ensure it is completely legal,” Mr Richards said.

“It is not there for security purposes, it was put up after businesses in the town agreed it would be a good opportunity to promote Watchet and has been a success.

“Traders in Watchet put in £2,000 collectively and we have no intention of taking it down.”

Mr Richards said it was a livestream of a public place, and there were clear signs up saying who owned it and what it is there for.

“We have actually had a lot of comments from people who live away but miss Watchet - a great example was when I moved the camera so that people who were away could watch the Watchet Summertime firework display,” Mr Richards said.

Mr Cramp said he was surprised but quite how much traction his social media post had.

“I seem to have opened Pandora’s box.

“I am 73, I do not generally spend my time on Facebook in debates which soon turn ugly but I just wanted to make people aware of it,” Mr Cramp added.

“I am still concerned about the legality of the camera and the invasion of privacy; I question whether it does promote Watchet in a good light and I believe there should have been more consultation with the community before it was installed.”