Graffiti

8.26.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 27th Jun 2008

A report to WWDC 'cabinet' in July claimed that in comparison with some parts of the country West Wiltshire does not have a serious graffiti, problem. However when graffiti does happen people naturally want it removed quickly.

This is relatively straightforward when the graffiti is on council property. However the council cannot remove graffiti from private property without the owner's permission, though it does have powers under the Clean Neighbourhood Acts to take action. Where the graffiti is on property belonging to a utility a notice can be served requiring the owner to remove it. If the owner fails to do so the council can then do the work and recover the costs. The same process could in theory apply to private individuals but in practice it's usually easier to work with householders, giving advice on how best to resolve the problem.

Where graffiti does occur it may be evidence of a wider anti-social behaviour problem, and like litter can proliferate if not dealt with. Also if the vandals realise their work is likely to be short-lived they're less likely to bother.

In the last three years only five reports were logged of graffiti on private property, of which three were 'utilities' and two were people's fences. These were all cleared up without any difficulties. Of course there were probably more incidences which were cleared up by residents without going to the police or council. In 2007 there were 29 incidences of graffiti on council property. Offensive graffiti should be removed immediately, other tags or scribbles are shifted within a couple of weeks during normal work schedules.

There have also been occasions when, despite repeated reporting, the council hasn't dealt with graffiti as quickly as it should, for example in the Paxcroft Mead underpass.

However it's good that the council is now taking the problem seriously and committing itself to keeping our streets clear of this type of vandalism.