Page 8 - link magazine

8 The Link Magazine • February 2006
West residents angry about 'enviro-crime'
On the evening before the Prime Minister's sudden appearance at Toothill Village Centre on 10 January to tackle graffiti and relaunch his
campaign for more respect in society, graffiti and litter were hot topics at a packed meeting of the West Swindon Area Forum.
Court Wakefield expressed said from 6 April local authorities PC Paul
his frustration, that despite efforts will have the legal right to remove Matthews,
by Swindon Council to keep its graffiti from road side furniture who covers V
property graffiti free, West Swin- and charge utilities for doing so. Freshbrook `
don's appearance was spoilt be- He said that abusive graffiti is and Grange ' :
cause utility companies like BT, removed within 24hours and other Park, told the y ..
ntl and the electricity companies graffiti removed on a cycle of work, meeting that V i
do not keep their road side boxes but worst hit areas get more atten- he had re- Al,
and lamp posts clean. tion. He added that the council cently ar-
Residents pointed out that Asda will remove graffiti from private rested six in- y ^
now sports graffiti high up on one property free of charge, so long as d i v i duals No special treatment for the PM. In response to a call from The
of its walls, households accept responsibility who had ad- Daily Mail, The Link was able to advise them that the wall at
Swindon's director of environ- if brickwork is damaged by high mitted to Toothill Village Centre had not been specially painted for Tony
ment and health Steve Harcourt pressure water treatment. over 100 tags. Blair and the Labour party was not responsible for the graffiti
"There has
been a reduction in graffiti in the removes one and a half tons of dog
area, but I'm afraid there is more in mess each week from designated
'1oothill. We're targeting a small bins around the town and his de-
" number of individuals, particu- partment was now looking at bet-
larly school leavers, who are per- ter ways of dealing with litter.
sistently offending." Graffiti hotline
The problems of litter around
West Swindon was raised. Some To report graffiti for removal, call
Whether it s the latest cut 7 would argue it is worse than graf- Swindon Council on 463463.
'
fiti because people of all ages are New group plan
colour or re-style call
responsible for it. Ruth Kiddie is proposing to start
874825 for an appointment Freshbrook councillor Peter West Swindon Action Group for
Greenhalgh said it was ludicrous an Improved Environment and
or free eonsu^ation that there are so few litter bins, would like to hear from anybody
"There are fantastic walks around interested in keeping the area tidy
West Swindon but the enjoyment by pressing the council to perform,
is ruined by the filthy state of some or by taking direct action.
Sha illage Centre, Shaw, Swindon N F areas." For details call her on 887313, or
Steve Harcourt said the council mail: [email protected]

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