Graffiti getting worse under Labour

12.44.34pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 12th Jan 2007

Cllr Mohammed on Barber Road

Recently released council figures show that Sheffield's graffiti problem is getting worse under the current Labour council. Liberal Democrats have highlighted the extent of the problem and called on Labour to address the poor graffiti removal service.

Figures in a report approved this week show that in 2005 only 23% of people were satisfied with the councils graffiti removal service. This compares with 37% in 2004, showing a huge 14% drop in just one year.

The Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Streetscene, Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed, believes that the drop in satisfaction shows Labour have taken their eye off the ball. During a recent walkabout in his own Broomhill ward Cllr Mohammed discovered 30 separate examples of graffiti in just a short stretch of road.

This evidence along with the significant drop in satisfaction rates highlight the scale of the graffiti problem Sheffield faces. Lib Dems believe that Labours current strategy is not working and have highlighted the need for reform of the service.

Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Streetscene, said: -

"The fact that satisfaction with the council's graffiti removal service has dropped to a new low is alarming. Its clear that the graffiti problem in Sheffield is getting significantly worse under Labour"

"In order to stop the problem in an area spreading early removal is vital, but this isn't happening under Labour. A good example of this can be seen in the Commonside and Barber Road area of my own ward Broomhill"

"Because the area was neglected and removal didn't take place there are now 30 separate bits of graffiti in just a short stretch of road. This brings the whole area down and is unacceptable to local residents and traders"

"Urgent action is required to reform the councils graffiti removal service. We need a co-ordinated service that can remove graffiti quickly, get tough with the perpetrators and address the underlying issues which cause a small section of society to spoil the local environment for the rest of us"