Work begins to clear spa town's graffiti

Specialist cleaners have been brought in to carry out the work

The second phase of a pilot scheme to tackle graffiti in a spa town is under way.

Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID), which is leading the project, said mapping had taken place to identify hot spots for tags to be removed.

BID chief executive Fran Inman said: "The pilot is designed to make people feel safer, enhance community engagement, and encourage economic growth by maintaining clean and attractive public spaces."

The three-phase project is being funded by £15,000 from the Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner.

Tagging hot spots have been identified across Cheltenham town centre

Ryan Hughes is leading the team cleaning the walls, using environmentally friendly chemicals.

He said: "It's important to identify the type of paint that's been used and the type of stone. You have to ensure the solutions you are using aren't causing damage to the surface.

"After we've removed the graffiti we add a layer to it that makes it easier to remove in the future if someone sprays onto it again.

"It's an invisible layer so it's not going to affect the surface or the appearance of the stone."

Fran Inman, Cheltenham BID chief executive, said tagging can make an area feel unsafe

Ms Inman said Cheltenham BID encouraged people to report issues and concerns over graffiti to help keep the area clear.

"We're really excited to have entered the next phase of the pilot having worked closely with our partners to map and gather data during the first phase," she said.

"It's not just about the tagging, it's about the perception of the town. Tagging can make an area feel unsafe."

Nick Evans, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, said the project showed "real pride" in Cheltenham

Nick Evans, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "Tackling graffiti may seem trivial, but it isn't. It's criminal damage and makes people feel less safe when they're walking around.

"That's why I'm so pleased that we have been able to fund this scheme, tackling anti-social behaviour and making it clear that we have real pride in Cheltenham."

The third phase of the scheme will involve monitoring any remaining tags and consulting with residents on if the removal of graffiti has improved perceptions of the area.