Graffiti wall idea to combat vandals in Walsall
A dedicated graffiti wall to stop vandals daubing their tags illegally could help clean up Walsall town centre, according to health chiefs.
Dr Anand Rischie put forward the idea at a meeting of Walsall Council's health and well-being board earlier this week, as members discussed progress of the Walsall Masterplan, which was launched last year.
One of the initial projects undertaken by the authority in their quest to rejuvenate Walsall town centre was to clean up the area by deep cleaning streets and removing graffiti.
But Dr Rischie, of Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said that instead of regular clean-up operations, giving young people a space to express themselves could be beneficial.
He said: “What we should also do is rather than cleaning graffiti everyday or every week, we should create a graffiti wall and dedicate it to people who really want to do it and then clean it every couple of months.
“It would also engage the community and young people to come in and spend time together.”
Board chairman Councillor Stephen Craddock added there might be an opportunity to place hoardings outside the New Art Gallery – where proposals to host outdoor events form part of the Masterplan.
Simon Tranter, head of regeneration and development at Walsall Council, said the authority had submitted a second application for the Government’s Future High Street fund, having successfully got through the first part of the process.
If successful, Walsall Council could be in line for a £25 million windfall to aid the town centre regeneration.
He added they were also waiting to hear if they had been successful in securing £350,000 to enhance Gallery Square and £150,000 for the markets – both from West Midlands Combined Authority.
The masterplan will see around £500 million pumped into Walsall town centre over the next 20 years and bosses have previously said it is the ‘last chance’ for them to save the ailing high streets.
