Graffiti kits help clean up Richmondshire

GRAFFITI-BUSTING chemical kits are now available free for Richmondshire residents to help clean up their property.

Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership (RCSP) has bought a stock of kits from Arrow Chemicals, and these can be borrowed free of charge from Community Offices across the Yorkshire Dales district.

According to a survey of the Richmondshire Viewfinder residents panel, undertaken in November 2007, almost a quarter of respondents felt “vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property or vehicles” was a problem in their local area.

But in the past, residents wanting to remove graffiti from their own private property would have had to buy cleaning chemicals themselves.

Kate Davies, RCSP Community Safety Officer, said: “Unsightly spray paint can really spoil an otherwise attractive neighbourhood. Studies show that removing graffiti quickly deters repeat attacks, reducing the likelihood of reoccurrence, and so we want to make it as easy as possible for residents to clean graffiti off their own property.

“The new kits are effective enough to make graffiti removal easy, but also safe enough for members of the public to use themselves.”

The kits contain three different types of chemicals, cloths for scrubbing and a spray for rinsing. The chemicals include thixotropic gel for removing even the toughest forms of graffiti, including spray paint, marker pen and correction fluid.

To borrow the equipment, call in to a Community Office in Richmond, Colburn, Leyburn Hawes or Reeth, or phone 01748 829100.

Graffiti on public buildings or in public areas will continue to be removed by Richmondshire District Council. For enquiries about graffiti removal on public or Council property, phone 01748 829100.