Say it, don’t spray it
Major graffiti crackdown in Ballina, as funding comes on stream to tackle problem
News Feature Anna-Marie Flynn A GRAFFITI crackdown is under way in Ballina. Following the successful clean-up of Diamond’s car park on Teeling Street late last year, obliterating two years worth of graffiti crimes, hopes are high that similar problems in other areas of the town can be eliminated.
This week community groups are being invited to apply for funding to assist in their efforts and financial support of up to €150,000 could now be in the offing.
The three-pronged fund is been made available by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Successful applicants can use the grant aid for the dual purposes of graffiti removal and future reduction measures.
Ballina-based councillor Johnnie O’Malley is spearheading the move. He tabled a motion to Town Council members late last September to adopt a bye-law to deal with what he termed ‘a particularly crude anti-social behaviour that is becoming more and more prevalent’.
The Fianna Fáil councillor has now been backed up by party colleague, Cllr Annie May Reape, on the issue and the two have urged non-statutory organisations, with a strong track record in environmental work or community safety, supported by the Local Authority, to apply.
Cllr O’Malley told The Mayo News that, despite the fact that at first glance it may not seem obvious, this is a real problem in Ballina.
“Just because this is not on every corner on every street does not mean it is not an issue. There was even one sign saying ‘no refugees’ and that was not too far from the centre of the town. It goes without saying that this is sending out the wrong image of Ballina.
“The reality is there are people out there with spray cans and permanent markers. I would like to see it stamped out. When CCTV comes on stream in the town I think that will sort a lot of it out.”
Town centre premises are the most common target for graffiti artists in Ballina. “Unfortunately in Ballina the culprits are not known, probably because there are many of them doing this and not just one or two. The areas targeted are generally not governed by residents’ associations, which means the clean-up does not happen immediately. The positive side of this is that if and when graffiti is spotted in our estates all over the town, the residents’ committees are organised enough to target it straight away. But, in other areas, I feel it is up to the Town Council to help look after this problem,” added Cllr O’Malley.
The scenic walk along the River Moy is the latest in a long line of areas altered dramatically by spray paint.
One resident of Moy Heights told The Mayo News that the area is at continuous risk. “It is a shame as that is one of the nicest walkways we have in our town and the only one developed along the Moy. To see it ruined by people who have nothing better to do than vandalise public property is terribly disappointing for all those who walk by it every day.”
Asked about residents’ clean-ups, she said: “Looking after our estate is difficult enough considering you have to get bodies out there and in all honesty no matter what you do with graffiti, you can still see the remnants of it long after you have painted over it. It’s hard work to keep painting over and over it. We should not have to spend our time and energy on this. It can be very disheartening to see this happening, even on a small scale. To think people are going out undoing good work carried out by voluntary people is really annoying.”
Vandalism, of any nature, is the antithesis of Ballina’s Tidy Towns Committee according to their spokesman Joe Crane.
As part of its work, Ballina Tidy Towns Committee meets up every Monday evening at 7.30pm outside the cathedral, before they tackle an area to clean up. While litter is the primary focus of their work, Mr Crane acknowledged the problems caused by vandalism, and noted that the town’s derelict buildings lie at the heart of most graffiti crimes. “In Ballina we are lucky in the sense we do not have a hugely obvious problem with graffiti but it has to be said that the derelict buildings located all over the town centre do attract a marked amount of vandalism. The Tidy Towns Committee would like to see the owners of these premises brought to heel on this and we would appeal to them to clean up their own areas for the betterment of the town.”
Applicants are advised that all funding proposals for graffiti control need to be submitted by June 30 next.
Funding
Community graffiti The programme will fund the following range of activities:
Graffiti Removal:
The Practical identification and removal of any graffiti within a public space, or on private property which is visible from a public space.
Graffiti Reduction Measures:
Educational, artistic, training and developmental activities which are likely to result in a reduction in the creation of illegal graffiti, in the future.
Closing date for applications is June 30, 2008 and enquires can be directed to
Community Graffiti Reduction Programme, Pobal, Holbrook House, Holles Street, Dublin 2.
