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Friday 1 Apr 2005

£10,000 BILL FOR GRAFFITI CLEAR-UP

Region & Route:

| Southern

Mindless graffiti vandals have been risking their lives to make their mark on one of London’s most famous railway stations. The footbridge connecting the main station concourse to platforms one to eight and building walls at London Bridge station have been defaced with giant, black and white lettering. Dave Ward, Network Rail Route Director said: “Graffiti is an anti-social crime, which affects us all.  Unfortunately it is often left to the railways to pay for the damage.  It will cost £10,000 to remove this graffiti.” The vandals would have gone to extreme lengths to reach their target area – trespassing, crossing electrified tracks and scaling walls and roofs. Graffiti removal will begin on the station wall on Tuesday 4 January. Platform eight will be closed at intervals on Wednesday 5 January while temporary scaffolding is erected and the graffiti removed. Anti-graffiti varnish will be coated on the walls to deter future vandalism. Mr Ward continued: “Network Rail and station staff will be proactively working with the British Transport Police to apprehend and prosecute vandals and trespassers.”