Drogheda at risk of ‘dirty town’ label if graffiti problem not tackled

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Drogheda is at risk of being labelled a “dirty town” if the “epidemic of graffiti” and overgrown weeds isn’t tackled with a multi-agency approach, it emerged this week.

The October meeting of Drogheda Borough District heard from Cllr. Pio Smith who highlighted the persistent problem of graffiti, which he said had “reached epidemic proportions at this stage, and is costing the council a five figure sum.”

He told members that he took a walk around the town just a week ago and was disgusted to find “very old walls defaced with graffiti.”

The graffiti is now in a number of areas around Drogheda, he added, including Bachelors Lane, Highlane, in West Street and in the alleyway leading down to the Augustinian Church.

He said removing the graffiti was “costing a lot from the council’s perspective, but also from the BIDs perspective as well, in cleaning it up.”

"No sooner has it been cleaned up.. then it starts again,” said Cllr. Smith.

He added that under the Litter Pollution Act it fell to the council to “do something to tackle this.”

“The best way to deal with graffiti is obviously to catch the culprit, but I personally believe we should look at the bylaws to make it more difficult to buy spray paint, and maybe even increase the penalty for anyone who is caught.”

He called for the council to link in with Community Gardai as “the gardai have a role to play in this.”

Gardai could map areas around Drogheda where this is happening, said Cllr. Smith.

The response to incidents, including the clean up, could also see engagement with the Probation Service and Tus workers, he suggested.

Mayor Michelle Hall called for a “much more pro-active approach” to tackling graffiti “because it does cost a huge amount of money to clean up”

Cllr. Ejiro O’Hare Stratton noted that graffiti was an increasing problem in Drogheda. She highlighted an offensive slogan painted on to a wall at the bus station which should be removed.

Cllr. James Byrne said weed growth across Drogheda is “projecting a very bad image of the town.”

He asked what the council were doing to address the weed growth, which he said was worse this year than last.

"Weed management is as important as litter management,” said Cllr. Byrne, appealing to senior management to consider including it in their monthly reports to council.

Louth County Council engineer, Irene McGahon, said the local authority were very aware of the ongoing issues with graffiti. She said it was being dealt with by the environment section, but that she knew letters were being sent to building owners as they were responsible for the exterior walls.

"It is not their fault that they are being targeted with graffiti, but ultimately the walls are their responsibility,” said Ms. McGahon.

The meeting heard from Director of Services, David Jones, who suggested that the new Local Community Safety Partnership would be the ideal forum for these issues to be raised.