02/12/03 - The Council's gum-busting machine, usually used to remove discarded chewing gum from pavements, has been used to remove graffiti from walls in the Denes area of Darlington.
Residents in the Widdowfield Street area of the Denes had complained to the Council's Community Services department about graffiti on a wall. The Council's Street Care Team used the gum-busting machine to remove the graffiti. The machine uses a combination of high pressure, high temperature water combined with a mild, environmentally friendly chemical to remove the graffiti.
The Council's Street Care Team was set up earlier this year funded by money set aside by the Council for Citizens' Priorities. The mobile team attends to on the spot street repairs and supports the Council's Environmental Response Team in anti-litter initiatives and fly-tipping clean ups.
Chris McEwan, the Council's Cabinet Member for Community Protection, said: "Graffiti can be a real eyesore and it is expensive to deal with. I am delighted the Street Care Team was able to respond to residents' concerns and use an existing resource, the gum-busting machine, to remove the graffiti".
Any resident wanting to report graffiti in their area can contact their Neighbourhood House or the Council's Customer Service team on (01325) 388777.