The Weekly Review 5
In the Headlines
The Innocent are found guilty
The proprietor of Tica, one of the few remaining, thoroughly useful, independent shops on Boundary (and Station) Road, has recently been served with a “threatening” community protection warning and notice. He is dismayed; as a victim of graffiti vandalism he has to foot the bill to clean off the graffiti from his premises. He knows, as do many local traders, that within days the graffiti vandals will be back and he will have to reach into his ever-emptying pocket again.
The Brighton Society has been pointing out the pointlessness of painting over graffiti and the need to get tough on the causes of graffiti crime, because the graffiti vandals return.
Below is the text from the proprietor of Tica that asks for support in order that he does not have to close his business:
After 47 years of serving the local community, it looks like the council’s recent actions will be forcing us to close down.
We were issued with a notice last week that read: “Your conduct is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those living in the locality and that your conduct is unreasonable”.
What did we do wrong? Our building was vandalised, several years ago, with graffiti and we are being forced to pay to remove it – knowing full-well that it will reappear when, doubtless, we will be forced to pay again.
Hopefully, the council will see the error of its way, cancel these notices and find other solutions. We have written to the council, our local councillor and our MP about the injustice of this. We will also be writing to the Argus. BBC Radio Sussex and Latest TV.
Traders in other shopping areas, such as George Street are also being subjected to the same sort of harassment and have started to organise against this unfair treatment.
The Brighton Society would like to hear your views on this issue.
Partly sourced from Buzz on Boundary
Comment
The imposition of a community protection warning and notice to remove graffiti from the premises of small local independent traders is surely an unfair act by the council? This is forcing the small independent traders in Brighton and Hove to what must be the point of despair. The council are using a one brush paints all approach in their attempt to rid the streets of the damage done by the graffiti vandals (criminals).
Punishing the victims of crime is quite frankly, barmy. Shops, like Tica, in this dreadful economic climate that the country finds itself in, could be forced out of business. The Brighton Society recognises the need to clean the city of graffiti, but this is not the way to achieve it. As we have found over the last five years the vandals come back within days of the graffiti being removed. Large businesses like Waitrose are able to carry the cost of a graffiti clean-up, which can be thousands of pounds, local shop owners can’t.
Film of the Week
Heritage Matters
The Royal Pavilion Gardens have been classified as “at risk” by Historic England. This is probably as a consequence of it being overused, resulting in too much litter, the damage that has been done to planting and wildlife, and the damaged done by crime and anti-social behaviour.
There are new plans for the future of Royal Pavilion Gardens. They might include fencing off the space to thwart antisocial behaviour. The plans will be available later this month; we urge everyone to get involved
Partly sourced from The Argus
Quoted
Bus stops are far more interesting and useful places to have art than in museums. Graffiti has more chance of meaning something or changing stuff than anything indoors. Graffiti has been used to start revolutions, stop wars, and generally is the voice of people who aren’t listened to. Graffiti is one of those few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don’t come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make somebody smile while they’re having a piss.
Banksy
