Call for Bideford graffiti artists to use legal graffiti walls
Those breaking the law could be fiend up to £1,000
Graffiti artists have been urged to use Bideford’s legal graffiti walls and not commit criminal damage in the town, which could cost them a fine up to £1,000.
Torridge District Council has said Bideford has recently seen a significant increase in illegal graffiti and ‘tags’ appearing on various walls and buildings throughout the town.
The illegal graffiti has appeared on public and private buildings and costs the tax payer a lot of money, so the council and police say they are keen to work with the graffiti artist community to promote the allowed sites and other forms of artistic expression that are both legal and safe.
In Bideford, there are two locations where graffiti is permitted. The sites include two walls near the motorhome section of Riverbank Long Stay Car Park, which is located next to the river, with the other site located within the Skate Park on Kingsley Road.
Councillor Philip Hackett, Lead Member of Public Health and Community Safety said: “While permitted graffiti can add cultural value to an area, it's important to note that illegal graffiti and tagging can be a significant challenge in terms of the potential negative impact and costs to clean up.
“The removal of such graffiti requires valuable officer time and tax payer money, which can put additional pressure on already stretched resources and finances at the council.
“Additionally, graffiti can obscure important signs, warnings, and symbols that are essential for public safety, potentially increasing the risk of accidents. To address this issue, we encourage individuals to report any illegal graffiti by contacting the police via the 101 number or by visiting the Devon and Cornwall Police website at, www.devon-cornwall.police.uk.”