CHELSFIELD & PRATTS BOTTOM: Graffiti: It's time to get tough!

10.08.00pm GMT Mon 19th Dec 2005

Chelsfield & Pratts Bottom Liberal Democrats have been acting to deal with the mindless graffiti in our area, which has reached new heights over the last few weeks.

On the 20th November the shops in Windsor Drive, and many sites in the surrounding area, were covered in graffiti.

Liberal Democrat team member Duncan Borrowman said: "I was out in Windsor Drive the following morning and was shocked by the scene. I returned home for my camera to take photos to send to the Council, to find that a local resident had already emailed me some, which you see om our website".

The Liberal Democrat team immediately contacted council officers to get work started on cleaning up the graffiti.

On 23rd November the Liberal Democrat team attended the Police Consultative Group meeting for the Orpington area (out of 10 Conservative councillors in Orpington not a single one bothered to turn up!). Duncan Borrowman raised the issue of graffiti and anti social behaviour with senior local police officers. Later Liberal Democrat team members met with the Chelsfield & Pratts Bottom ward police officer, PC Steve George, to discuss dealing with the problems.

Last week there was a further outbreak of graffiti at Chelsfield Station - Lib Dem Councillor Grace Goodlad has contacted South Eastern Trains to see what cooperation there can be between the train company and the Council.

Cllr Grace Goodlad says: "We need to get tough on graffiti. In particular graffiti needs to be removed as quickly as it appears - so that the mindless vandals that deface our area learn that we won't tolerate their behaviour"

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP CLEAR UP GRAFFITI AND STOP THE VANDALS:

1. Report all graffiti to the Council's Customer Services Centre on 020 8313 4557.

2. If you live in Chelsfield Park you can contact the Chelsfield Park Residents Association, who have 6 clean up kits.

3. The Chelsfield & Pratts Bottom Liberal Democrat team have a clean up kit which we will use to help you clean up graffiti on private property. Preferably email us at cpb@bromleylibdems.org.uk

RECEIVE A £500 REWARD The Council will pay up to £500 for information leading to the successful prosecution of an 'enviro-crime', such as dumped cars, fly tipping and graffiti. Call 020 8313 4557 if you have information on who the 'enviro-criminals' are.

Local police contact: 01689 891212 (PC Steve George is the Chelsfield & Pratts Bottom Ward officer).