New measures to tackle graffiti in Cheltenham underway

• Local businesses, the borough council and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) launched a three month pilot scheme targeting the worst affected areas just before Christmas
• So-called hotspots have now been mapped-out ready for removal to begin
• The scheme is funded by a £15k grant secured from the Home Office by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
• Cheltenham Business Improvement District CEO Fran Inman said, “This is a joint effort to create a cleaner, safer and more welcoming environment, involving everyone who cares about the town and our communities”.

A pilot scheme aimed at tackling graffiti tagging in Cheltenham town centre is entering its second phase as work to clean areas identified as being graffiti hotspots gets underway.

Funding for the project of £15k was secured from the Home Office by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Nick Evans said: “Tackling graffiti may seem trivial, but it isn’t. It’s criminal damage and makes people feel less safe when they’re walking around.

“That’s why I’m so pleased that we have been able to fund this scheme. Tackling anti-social behaviour and making it clear that we have real pride in Cheltenham.”

The Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID) has been working with key stakeholders including Cheltenham Borough Council, the Civic Society, OPCC, Gloucestershire Constabulary, police cadets and local community policing teams to map areas impacted by graffiti as part of a new pilot launched in September. 

The first phase began with the appointment of a specialist contractor Ecoclean Environmental. Phase one also included a mapping and data gathering exercise to assess the impact of graffiti on town centre businesses and council owned buildings, grade 1 and 2 listed buildings and other public areas.

Cllr Izaac Tailford, Cheltenham Borough Council Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Public Realm said: “Graffiti grot spots and tags are a visual blight on our town. They’re often offensive and persistent in nature and undermine the sense of pride we have for Cheltenham. The clean-up of graffiti comes at a significant cost and drains valuable resources.

“Working with our partners, we’re also encouraging residents to take action and report graffiti to help us maintain the vibrancy of our town for everyone. Entering this next phase of the pilot will restore the beauty of our regency town.”

Entering the second phase marked a significant milestone in the pilot with work beginning to remove tagging early in the New Year. Using a variety of specialist solutions, equipment and techniques to remove the graffiti without causing damage to the underlying surface or having any negative environmental impact. 

Fran Inman, chief executive at Cheltenham BID, said: “We’re really excited to have entered the next phase of the pilot having worked closely with our partners to map and gather data during the first phase.

“The pilot is designed to make people feel safer, enhance community engagement, and encourage economic growth by maintaining clean and attractive public spaces, whilst also encouraging individuals to report issues or concerns to help sustain these improvements.”

Inspector Steve Benbow from the Cheltenham Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “The police can't tackle graffiti alone which is why I’m pleased that we’re part of the partnership approach.

"Joint working allows us to identify areas which are being targeted by graffiti and work together with colleagues to restore the area.

"My team supported in the initial phase of this scheme and will continue to do so throughout. Graffiti is criminal damage so PCSOs and officers will work to identify and robustly deal with anyone found to be committing offences."

The final phase of the pilot will be the roll-out of graffiti removal across all mapped areas.

You can help tackle graffiti by reporting online: www.cheltenham.gov.uk/report-graffiti