Angry traders and councillors have condemned plans to remove CCTV cameras from busy areas because they are not considered effective.

In some areas, including Rochford Town Square, the cameras will be removed from lamp-posts because of health and safety concerns.

Rochford District Council has been in talks with Essex County Council and Essex Police, who are said to prefer covert mobile cameras to the more visible fixed versions because they offer better picture quality.

Cameras may be removed from Golden Cross Parade, Hawkwell, and London Road, Rayleigh, because the cameras are not deemed to be effective or viable.

Essex County Council has also asked for all CCTV equipment to be removed from its lamp-posts in shopping areas in Hullbridge, Hockley and Rochford Market Square by the end of January.

It blames new health and safety concerns about too much weight on the posts.

Market Square was the subject of a police dispersal order two years ago because of the continual crime problems it suffered at the hands of antisocial teenagers.

A report by chief executive Paul Warren to the district council's policy committee on December 7 says the only area where monitored, 24-hour CCTV was considered beneficial was Rayleigh High Street.

He said it was possible these cameras might feed into Southend Council's CCTV headquarters if the changes were agreed.

Mr Warren added: "Research indicates CCTV is not as effective as perceived, and improved lighting is more effective in impacting on both crime and the fear of crime."

The committee will also be told it would cost £29,000 to replace some of the older cameras in the network, but just £5,000 to remove them.

However, the idea has angered traders and councillors from the affected areas.

Derek Cottis, who runs Rayleigh Auto Centre, in London Road, Rayleigh, said: "This seems like the council once again not caring what happens to local traders.

"The police are always saying they would prefer to use mobile ones. That would be all right if we ever knew when they would be around."

Ian Dane, tenant of the King's Head Hotel, in Rochford Square, said he believed troublemakers had realised the existing CCTV cameras were not working most of the time.

He added: "We want better security, rather than less."

James Cottis, Tory councillor for Rochford, said he thought it was "diabolical" to leave Rochford town centre without any CCTV coverage.

He said: "The county council requirement is health and safety gone mad."

Liberal Democrat Chris Lumley, of Grange Ward, said he planned to attend the meeting and oppose the plans, even though he was not a committee member.

He added: "Since CCTV has been installed in London Road, we have had fewer problems."