Council spends £200,000 on removing graffiti

In each of the two years to April 2014, £100,000 was spent removing the vandalism that had blighted shops and properties across the borough.

The council is currently trying to work out how it will save £22 million over the next two years. Its funding from central government has been slashed by £120 million over six years to 2016.

Deputy leader Steve Eling said he would rather the cash was put to better use but insisted removing graffiti from Sandwell's towns is important to residents.

He said graffiti that is left on walls will only encourage other vandals to add to it and vowed funds would continue to be used to cover up spray paint and other damage.

Councillor Eling said "Our communities want us to remove graffiti, some of it is offensive and it is removed quickly.

"A lot of it can be classed as vandalism and people want something done about it.

"It's like broken window effect - if we don't clean it up people think it is an invitation to spray some more and it grows and the whole place is plastered with it. It is important that we get rid of it quickly.

"On one hand I would rather be using the money to buy books for the libraries or keep parks looking nice but on the other hand letting graffiti run wild and not covering it up is not what anyone wants."

In July 2013, Cradley Heath Central Mosque and Islamic Centre, which had previously been targeted by arsonists, was covered in racist graffiti. The graffiti was daubed in white paint on the red brick wall.

It comes after it was revealed Dudley Council has also spent close to £200,000 removing graffiti during the last two years.

More than £20,000 has been spent on the derelict Dudley Hippodrome after vandalism attacks forced repairs.

Steel doors have been forced open and security fencing damaged while monitoring checks have had to be carried out on the building since 2010.

In September there was a spate of graffiti across Brierley Hill, sparking a police probe and a council investigation.