Street art encouraged in bid to discourage graffiti

Artists and community groups are being given the chance to make their marks on public spaces in a bid to discourage "rogue graffiti".

A series of street art projects is planned in areas around Northampton that are often targeted with graffiti.

The new work will be created on utility cabinets, walls near roads, shop shutters and an underpass and will be protected by a special coating "to reduce the risk of damage from rogue graffiti".

West Northamptonshire Council said it had also introduced "additional graffiti removal resources, including a new van to support efforts to keep local neighbourhoods clean and welcoming".

Nigel Stansfield, Reform UK's cabinet member for environment at the council, said: "Our growing programme of street art projects also shows that we are taking a positive and creative approach to tackling the issue.

"By working with local artists and community groups we can improve the look of our towns and protect vulnerable sites from repeated vandalism."

Artists have already started work on a number of utility cabinets with other projects planned for murals on walls, pillars and an underpass.

The council said most designs had been created with local groups. Roadside pieces would use simple designs linked to the community.

It said reports of graffiti had risen sharply in recent years and it hoped its additional resources - the removal van and a team offering advice and support to property owners - would "focus on keeping... public areas free from graffiti and helping to improve the look and feel of the local environment".

The team has already started work on Kettering Road "to remove unsightly graffiti such as tags – or signatures – and 'throw-ups' – words created from bubble lettering", the council said.

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