Graffiti scourge causes distress and gives out a bad impression

IT is deeply distressing to see the Grade 1 listed St John on the Wall archway desecrated with graffiti as highlighted in your recent report.

The church was built into the medieval walls of the old city and is of immense historic significance to Bristol.

The scourge of graffiti seriously blights our city. It causes considerable trauma and distress to the innocent victims whose properties are targeted. The amount of graffiti in areas of Bristol is shocking and it must give visitors to Bristol a dreadful impression of our city.

It is a fact that Bristol has the highest rate of graffiti vandalism of anywhere in Britain. When visiting other towns and cities you do not see anything like as much graffiti as you do here.

How has this come about? Bristol City Council and influential sections the media have encouraged this activity. Bristol promoted itself as the street art capital of the world, giving graffiti artists a signal to leave their mark on public infrastructure and private property. Banksy is revered by fashionable opinion formers in the city. His creations seem to be venerated more than those of Michelangelo. Graffiti has been depicted as being “cool” and part of Bristol’s “alternative” culture. Graffiti does not demonstrate individualism and selfexpression; it is a product of irresponsibility and self-indulgence. It is criminal damage, and it should not be tolerated.

Bristol City Council has belatedly admitted that it is “losing the fight” against graffiti and tagging. However, the council itself must accept some responsibility for the extent of this problem.

Jonathan Hucker

Conservative candidate Stockwood Ward