15 June 1999

PETERBOROUGH'S GRAFFITI REMOVAL SERVICE SET FOR EXPANSION

Peterborough's graffiti removal service came under the spotlight again today, Tuesday, 15 June, at a meeting of Peterborough City Council's Environment Committee.

Councillors agreed plans to develop the graffiti removal service with an additional graffiti buster to remove the growing amount of graffiti on public buildings and to expand the service to private property, for which a charge would be made.

A charge of £25 a hour will be made for removing graffiti from domestic properties. The average time required to remove graffiti from such properties is around 30 minutes. Separate charging arrangements for businesses and public utilities will be made.

Councillor Margaret Todd, Chair of Environment Committee, said, "Graffiti is a growing problem in the city and we are taking rigorous action to keep Peterborough clean and improve the local environment. A series of successful high-impact campaigns have also been launched to deter graffiti vandalism in problem areas of the city."

She added, "The graffiti removal team is adapting its working methods to ensure items of graffiti are removed more speedily and with less damage to the environment."

The city council is actively taking action to deter graffiti through a series of talks in schools, ongoing anti- graffiti campaigns and is also looking at the possibility of a graffiti wall.

The graffiti buster service was launched in 1995 and concentrates on removing graffiti from public property such as council houses, street furniture, signs and underpasses.

On average the graffiti buster is called out around 800 times a year, successfully removing over 4,000 items of graffiti.

End.

Media contact: Jennie Kendall, Press and Publicity Officer, on (01733) 452577.