Writing on the Wall Options

[Simon Kirby]

Those perennial drama queens at town hall towers are all-a-fluster about some graffiti on the skate park. Apparently the walls of the structure were so "covered" with graffiti that the council administration has closed the skate park pending sanitization.

How's your Old Testament? King Belshazzar, despotic ruler of the hateful and repressive kingdom of Babylon, was troubled by writing that appeared on his wall, and he commissioned a report on the matter from Daniel (him of lions' den fame). Daniel told the tyrannical king that the writing was a warning of the fall of Babylon. Just saying.

Anyhoo, the council are saying that it's going to cost them (by which they mean us) just shy of £1,000 to clean up the graffiti. That sounds rubbish to me, even for the town council. Here's a can of graffiti remover, and the stuff is very effective. A couple of cans of that and a bit of a scrub and for £20 the job's a good 'un, all for less time than it would take for the council to phone the story in to the local paper.

Here's the skate parky thing.

I agree that the "no scooters" could be a bit hurtful.

I see some nasty cracking in that concrete - though wasn't the skate park built a year after the Costain's dewatering?

The article says that the skate park was closed because of the graffiti, but I would suggest that with all those fallen leaves and muck in the bottom that the skate park has been unusable for quite some time. Don't we pay for a grounds-keeper already? Perhaps the council could buy a broom with the graffiti remover.

[Andy Capp]

We all know what Lib Dems are like, so I have added this for a bit of balance to the OP!

"The culprits have covered the ramps with offensive graffiti, including death threats to individually named local police officers.

Similarly insulting statements also cover the walls of the boat store in the park.

A clean-up mission is underway, however is unlikely to be completed today due to the sheer amount of paint that needs to be removed."

[Biker1]

Does the title of this thread refer to the LibDems?
Oh no, sorry, a bit of a pun perhaps?

[Andy Capp]

For the benefit of those who struggle with sarcasm : our 'Lib Dem wannabe' posted a one side view of something and I just added something for balance.

[Cognosco]

For the benefit of those who struggle with sarcasm : our 'Lib Dem wannabe' posted a one side view of something and I just added something for balance.

Yeah poor old Simon is having no luck is he? No allotment due to victimisation from the town council? His sponsor for the LibLiars gone off on walkabout and shunned by his own party? Not that there was ever much chance of him being allowed to enroll anyway? Now it appears as if Simon's chosen political party will be no more after the next general election? Commiserations to him I say!

Agree though that the estimated cost of removal of the graffiti does sound a bit extortionate although not seen the extent of it of course.

[Andy Capp]

Agree though that the estimated cost of removal of the graffiti does sound a bit extortionate although not seen the extent of it of course.

It seems all over the place, but I think the content is more of an issue than the amount.



It's all very well Simon exposing alleged malpractice in the council, but I regret his displaying of similar behaviour as that he complains of.

[Exhausted]

I don't think that the cost of the graffiti removal by a professional company is unreasonable. I doubt the council have the facilities, manpower and equipment to do the job themselves. Based on labour rates today and as it appears that it is not just a couple of initials sprayed on the skatepark, there will be several days work for two people plus materials and use of equipment.

I'm not into vigilante style punishment but the skatepark users must be well miffed that their hallowed ground has been rubbished and closed for several days. The word does get around as usually the perpetrators get named within the circle which does not give the police the opportunity to act and to be honest it is low level crime anyway but may present the opportunity for them, the users, to vent their spleen as you say.

[Simon Kirby]

Yeah poor old Simon is having no luck is he? No allotment due to victimisation from the town council? His sponsor for the LibLiars gone off on walkabout and shunned by his own party? Not that there was ever much chance of him being allowed to enroll anyway? Now it appears as if Simon's chosen political party will be no more after the next general election? Commiserations to him I say!

Yes, and they voted again just the other day not to let me have a plot - secret session to which I wasn't invited, and they gave me no reason for their decision. The victimisation is still very active so I hope you'll forgive me if I'm more than usually bitter towards the town council.

[Cognosco]

Yes, and they voted again just the other day not to let me have a plot - secret session to which I wasn't invited, and they gave me no reason for their decision. The victimisation is still very active so I hope you'll forgive me if I'm more than usually bitter towards the town council.

And of course you are not alone!
But precept payers in Newbury take a "I am alright Jack stance" and don't really care...until it involves them of course and then it will be "why isn't something done about it".
Still it has been carrying on for more years than I care to remember so perhaps people just take it as the norm and keep their heads down as they don't want any trouble so to speak?

[Andy Capp]

Yes, and they voted again just the other day not to let me have a plot - secret session to which I wasn't invited, and they gave me no reason for their decision. The victimisation is still very active so I hope you'll forgive me if I'm more than usually bitter towards the town council.

So post that instead of things that otherwise devalue what you say?

[x2lls]

I see no point in trying to remove something which will inevitably return in a very short time.

Better to encourage those with an artistic streak to completely cover the area with a design that would disguise the offending crud.

Simples

[On the edge]

Yes, and they voted again just the other day not to let me have a plot - secret session to which I wasn't invited, and they gave me no reason for their decision. The victimisation is still very active so I hope you'll forgive me if I'm more than usually bitter towards the town council.

This isn't the same LibDem's that have been squeaking on about West Berkshire making strategic planning decisions behind closed doors is it?

Frankly, they well deserve what's coming.

[Simon Kirby]

This isn't the same LibDem's that have been squeaking on about West Berkshire making strategic planning decisions behind closed doors is it?

Frankly, they well deserve what's coming.

And indeed the Lib Dem party is the party of a fair, free and open societyy - it says so right at the very top of the party constitution:

The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. We champion the freedom, dignity and well-being of individuals, we acknowledge and respect their right to freedom of conscience and their right to develop their talents to the full. We aim to disperse power, to foster diversity and to nurture creativity. We believe that the role of the state is to enable all citizens to attain these ideals, to contribute fully to their communities and to take part in the decisions which affect their lives.

You couldn't tell that though could you.

[newres]

I have regrettably banned my 12 year old son from there as it is a centre for weed smoking and outdoor drinking.

[On the edge]

I have regrettably banned my 12 year old son from there as it is a centre for weed smoking and outdoor drinking.

Which can't be laid at the gate of Parkway developers of course. Neither can the disgraceful state of the pathway to it (from the Robin Hood Roundabout) which looks as if the refuse truck had just delivered. Presumably we can't afford people to keep the place together....

[Simon Kirby]

Presumably we can't afford people to keep the place together....

As it happens Newbury parishioners do pay for the place to be kept together - the council tax us of around £1,000,000 annually to do little more than keep the park tidy, so questions need to be asked about the effectiveness of the administration.

[Exhausted]

As it happens Newbury parishioners do pay for the place to be kept together - the council tax us of around £1,000,000 annually to do little more than keep the park tidy, so questions need to be asked about the effectiveness of the administration.

They do a lot of grass verge cutting and of course the cemeteries.

I do think that Victoria park has deteriorated through lack of decent maintenance. The boating pond is often so choked with weed that it looks to be a health hazard for the kids using the pedalos. The fences are broken down and if it is a centre for wacky baccy and worse, where are the wardens and the police community officers.

And, why is Queen Victoria fenced off.