MP declares war on graffiti and litter louts (From Bury Times)

MP declares war on graffiti and litter louts

7:00am Saturday 28th March 2009

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AN MP has declared war on vandals — and has made a call to arms on the internet to launch his battle campaign.

Bury South MP Ivan Lewis says he has had enough of graffiti artists and litter louts blighting the borough and wants the entire community’s help in cleaning up the area.

On Monday, he set up five campaign groups on social-networking site Facebook for each area of his constituency — Radcliffe, Whitefield, Prestwich, Unsworth and Simister.

They had gained a combined membership of 137 members within 24 hours. After rolling up his sleeves to join a clean-up day in Prestwich Clough on Sunday, Mr Lewis said: “I have opened discussions with the probation service with a view to community service offenders being put to work to clean up graffiti.

“I will also be working with local schools to engage pupils and parents in the campaign.

“Graffiti and litter are hallmarks of the ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude, which often leads to crime. It is time we fought back against the small minority who have no respect for their neighbours. Bury Council has a duty to take this issue more seriously and work in partnership with other agencies to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to graffiti and litter.

“Where possible, local residents can join forces to clean up hot-spot areas in their neighbourhood.

“The campaign will urge residents and traders to identify grot-spots, make the council aware of areas which require attention, support residents where they can join together in clean-up activities and press the council to make graffiti-removal kits available for everyone in Bury South.”

A Bury Council spokesman said: “We are actively working with a range of partners to engage with local community groups to find sustainable solutions to this difficult and distressing problem.

“Through schemes such as the street care pledge, individuals are empowered to take responsibility for their own local neighbourhood to help tackle the issue of litter and graffiti.”

For more information: log on to http://www.bury.gov.uk/pledge

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