So bad I think it deserves it's own thread.

ALF seems to have replaced SBA as the main tagger.

Areas 'hit' in the last few days.

Heather Way park - all over the slide.

Kempshott Lane bus-stop (the one near Fuzzy Drove).

ALF tags all over the road signs on the Brighton Hill roundabout, the SBA tag has been on one for months.......

Hopefully the local Councillors (including Kempshott Borough Cllr Mrs Court, whose Portfolio this subject comes under) haven’t got their “eyes wide shut” on all this either Kezzer!

As I mentioned on the “Criminal Damage / ASB / Vandalism” thread:



I seem to recall hearing only this week on Kestrel FM that yet more people were being given training on graffiti-cleaning by the Council?!

So, in relation to Kezzer’s post...

Are all these “schemes” and the “Graffiti Charter” (detailed on links below) really working? And as this issue has never been eradicated... looking at the wider issue countrywide, and in relation to our Government and the criminal justice system regarding all ASB (some may ask what CJ system? ). Isn’t prevention now better than cure?

http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/environme ... affiti.htm

http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/business/ ... harter.htm

I would just like SBA and ALF caught and something done about them. SBA has been tagging for over a year now.

Respect to Cllr Court for doing her best to keep Kempshott clean, and those volunteers and yes shame on the council for cutting the number of cleaners because it is a blight on the Basingstoke. Trying taking a stroll around Hatch Warren or Brighton Hill if you think Kempshott has it bad.

It is fundamental IMO to catch the little @@@@@@ and deal with them properly so they don't continue to do it.

I wish it were possible to talk some of the people who live by the Park to put a Webcam up at their back windows (oppo the park) on Friday/Saturday nights.....and those on Heather Way near the bus stops.

All we'd have to do is do the bus stops up... (properly so you can't actually see the graffitti - btw what are the Conservatives doing about the bus stops? They promised responsive cleaning in their manifesto - they still look eyesores and don't do our area justice!!)..... and someone will be along to do them in no time - having a Web cam ready to catch the little blighters in action would be a bonus!

How long have the bus stops been looking so shabby now? - Doesn't say much about Kempshott does it - its the first thing you see on the way in!

Jeeps

It's all very well having a go at the councils but surely this is a police matter. What are the police doing about it?

Regardless of your view of the council as a whole or individuals within it, it's the job of the council to supply the play equipment, bus stops, etc. and maintain them and it's not the job of councillors to roll up their sleeves and clean the stuff off.

If any blame is to be apportioned here it's to the little b*st*rds who commit the crime. And it's the reponsibility of the police and the courts to catch them and punish them.

Che wrote:



It's kinda what I was eluding to with my post above, yesterday. What "punishment" do they get aye? Hopefully our poster "On The Beat" will see these comments and respond?



I agree Che. But our Conservative-run Council cut back on graffiti cleaners and, instead, trained some Borough Councillors (and the general public / groups) to undertake graffiti removal in their Wards and Parishes.

hahah - do you work for them then? - just checking.

I agree with you on the police matter - however - the area has people appointed to ensure that the place does not look like an eyesore and if they are having to roll up their own sleeves to put eyesores right then there must be some serious problems somewhere.

Everyone contributes to the area we live in therefore we shouldn't have to keep looking at something that has been defaced for a length of time.

If the problem is so bad they are defaced as soon as they are put right - then more needs to be done - instigated by those in the positions to ensure these things are highlighted.

I don't care for any of the parties - but when the conservatives blatantly use the subject for their party material and vow to keep the streets cleaner - including a photo of a lamp post they've just cleaned - then I think we have the right to say - what are you doing about F&W and SBA, ALF, the swear words on the park, the swear words written on bollards - I think we have the right to say - "you know about it - why is it still there - who's coming to sort it and when?".

If someone needs to stand up and shout "we need a team of cleaners" - then please use the position you have been given to do it - im not interested in who stopped the street cleaners in the beginning or bun fighting - just get on with it.

I don't think its acceptable AT ALL to have councillors cleaning off some little oinks drawings - but telling everyone that you are there, have been trained to do small scale and will fight the problem as part of your election campaign - and still we have a problem - it needs to be highlighted. They obviously need help to do it!

I have respect for anyone who rolls their own sleeves up to help the community BUT how long will the large scale graffiti stay put?

Jeeps

I probably sound aggressive here - its not my intention.

I just think sometimes - if public services were businesses - well I don't think half the problems would exist. Things wouldn't be acceptable!

Heads would roll!

Jeepers wrote:



How very true. And I've heard that kind of statement said by so many others over the years too! And I've also heard it said that some Council Officers and Civil Servants wouldn't survive in a commercial environment either... which is why they are in their roles! A generalisation in some cases maybe... but true in others too I'm sad to say.

The point I was trying to make was that surely it is better to stop the aforementioned b*st*rds from ruining our community in the first place rather than spend limited resources on tolerating their little hobby and then paying to get it cleared up. Over the last few years (covering a period including when the borough council had no overall control) the portion of our council tax that goes to the borough council has roughly kept pace with inflation. And that's the official government rate not the actual rate! Over the same period the portion of the council tax bill that goes to the police has been several times that of inflation every year. About time they started earning their wages.

In the ten years I've lived in Kempshott the place has gone downhill and the increased building that has occurred south of the A30 has meant that our kids are even condemmed to a poor secondary school. That can only accelerate things. Hopefully by Christmas Mrs Che, Miss Che and myself will have moved to South Warnborough. During our house hunting I've not seen any grafitti there.

THE bus-stop in Heather Way - you know the one I mean has gone - the shell remains - must have happened yesterday?????

The graffiti from the slide has gone I'm pleased to say. The level of graffiti on road signs and bridges in Basingstoke is really bad.

To me it's a waste of public money HAVING to clear it up because it shouldn't be there in the first place - catch the little bleeders I say ... but if it's there it needs to be cleaned away because by leaving it there it encourages more IMO.

Did anyone see the letter in the Gazette about two youths bold as brass 'decorating' the Kempshott roundabout signs?

You might have seen the art-work as well? Our new friend ALF again - he is everywhere - even on one of the portaloos in a Kempshott Lane development.

Yes, I've seen both Kezzer. Not good. I also saw a vehicle owned by one of the Kempshott Councillors parked on Highways land adjacent to the roundabout over the weekend. It did occur to me whether she was going to use one of the graffiti kits she has been trained on to clean it off , but I think it is still there - last I came passed anyway!?

Hooray it's gone from the roundabout signs and loving our new bus-stop .

Still lots of ALF along Kempshott Lane/Buckskin Lane though.....

ALF, ALF, ALF everywhere. I would be interested to know whether the police thought to contact the Gazette letter writer for a description of the two he saw painting the roundabout?