Dartford Council's war on graffiti has been so successful it plans to spend another £10,500 on a specialist cleaning firm to remove it.

A four-week trial clean-up costing £5,000 removed 875 square metres of paint daubed on road signs, cable TV boxes, post boxes and bus stops.

The council employed specialist cleaning firm Proud Industrial Ltd, from Surrey, to remove graffiti from private and public property.

The extra money means the scheme will run for two more months with the firm working two days a week.

Temple Hill Residents' Association member Ernie Horsby said: "I've seen a vast improvement over the last few weeks with the removal of graffiti."

Dartford Council's environmental officer Dave Thomas said: "The aim is to keep on top of the graffiti once it has been completely cleared up. Studies show graffiti artists give up if they know their work is going to be removed."

Private property owners only have to sign a consent form if the council wants to remove graffiti from their property but eventually private property owners may have to contribute toward the cost of cleaning their building.

December 11, 2001 10:37