Cllr Tomlinson Helping Remove Graffiti
Whilst I was the Lead Member for Swindon Services (May 04 - April 05), I launched a new graffiti-busting van, in a bid to help clean up the town.
Until then residents and businesses have had to pay the council to use its high-pressure water jets to remove any graffiti daubed on their property. With a typical £60 charge, to often graffiti was left, and if you leave it spreads - it is the broken window syndrome.
This service has been aimed at removing the high visibility sites, reported by local residents.
The annual cost of £40,000 needed to pay for the extra van and team came from savings in the IT budget. An excellent example of cutting waste within the Council and switching the money to frontline services.
Cllr Justin Tomlinson, "This service is now 12 months old, and I am delighted to say an additional 315 homes were able to take advantage of this excellent service. Even the Prime Minister was so impressed he came to Swindon to use the service. As a Councillor I am determined to make a real difference, and this yet another example of where we have listened to residents and actually made changes to improve the situation."
To request to use this service, please call the graffiti hotline on 463 463.