A new scheme to banish graffiti from the walls of Wilmslow has been hailed a success.
Last month we reported on wilmslow.co.uk that a team of handymen, armed with paint brushes, had painted over graffiti hotspots in the town including the A34 underpass.
The problem was flagged-up by Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services.
He said: "Graffiti has been a problem in Wilmslow for some time now and the nature of it really did bring down the area.
"It may have started off as art, but then it was added to with marker pens and paint and some of the messages were offensive.
"But now thanks to our new partnership with Cheshire Probation, we have a team of skilled people to paint the affected areas."
Under supervision, a team of 12 male offenders carried out the work on May 22nd, as a way of paying back to the community, and on Sunday, June 5th, another team of men painted over graffiti that had appeared to the rear of shops on Green Lane in Wilmslow town centre.
Following the success of this scheme the probation service is planning to carry out further work across Cheshire East, mainly painting and clearing out shrubberies.
Councillor Menlove added: "It's proving to be a mutually beneficial relationship – we are provided with the manpower and the probation service can access useful schemes to help improve the community."
