A RISE in graffiti in Rugby has prompted a councillor to call for a crackdown.
Liberal Democrat Coun Tim Douglas has called on Rugby Borough Council (RBC) to form a Task Group to tackle the problem.
His investigations revealed that there were 75 incidents of graffiti reported to the council in 2020 – up 18 per cent on the previous year, and 44 per cent on 2018.
He says it has cost RBC over £8,000 in staff hours to clean graffiti in the past 12 months.
Coun Douglas first raised the issue at a council meeting in February when he asked Environment and Public Realm Portfolio Holder Coun Howard Roberts to set up a Task Group to tackle the issue.
Following another question on April 20, Coun Douglas has received reassurances that the matter will be looked into.
He said: “Residents have seen a rise in graffiti across Rugby on public and private property in the past twelve months which is causing criminal damage and a blot on the landscape. It is also costing time and effort to clean as well as causing frustration and annoyance for businesses and residents.
“Graffiti has been evident across Rugby, in areas such as around the train station and Murray Road, parts of Bilton, on bus shelters in Brownsover, in Hillmorton and in the Paddox area on Kingsley Avenue, McKinnell Crescent, Hillmorton Road and Lower Hillmorton Road as well as on road signs and on private property including residents’ fences and shops.
“I have proposed that a Task Group be set up with councillors, residents, businesses, council officers and the police to see what can be done to tackle the issue as well as provide support and advice to residents and businesses.
“We need to show the perpetrators that it’s not acceptable and it won’t be tolerated. With a strategy and greater intelligence sharing we can tackle this issue.”
