COUNCIL CLEANS UP EYESORE AND GRAFFITI HOTSPOT

Havering Council has organised the clean-up of an area that attracted antisocial behaviour, graffiti and fly-tipping.

The Council and local police acted to clean-up a part of Deere Avenue in Elm Park after receiving complaints from local people about graffiti vandalism.

Young offenders repainted over graffiti on walls and a garage door at the weekend (Saturday 19 September). The local authority supplied the paint, overalls, gloves and brushes. The work is due to be finished this weekend.

Council officers also cut back trees and shrubbery to expose the alleyway to natural light to make people feel safer. In addition they also swept up letter, refuse and other rubbish dumped in the area.

The Council also traced the owner of a derelict garage behind Deere Avenue that had become a magnet for vandalism and worked with him to demolish it to prevent further criminal damage.

Police officers from the Elm Park Safer Neighbourhoods Team consulted local residents about the improvements and have kept them updated on the work.

Cllr Barry Tebbutt, Cabinet Member for Streetcare, said the clean-up was done as part of the current Action Havering campaign to reduce residents' fear of crime.

He said:

"It’s great to see young offenders painting over graffiti and doing some good in the community.

"Our officers worked hard to clean and tidy up the area and hopefully it will be less likely to attract antisocial behaviour in the future. Local police officers will be closely monitoring the situation."