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Tuesday 25 May 2021

Cheshire graffiti hotspot tackled by rail workers

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

Unsightly graffiti on the railway in Widnes has been tackled as part of wider community clean up in Cheshire.

Network Rail were asked by Cheshire Police and Halton Council to help spruce up the Bankfield road and Grizdale areas of the town by painting over offensive tagging on a footbridge over the line to Liverpool.

Allan Gibbs-Monaghan, infrastructure delivery manager for Cheshire and Merseyside at Network Rail, said: “Supporting Cheshire Police and Halton council’s local clean-up initiative is a win-win for everyone. It makes the area better for both residents and passengers, as we welcome them back in large numbers in the summer.

“Our message to graffiti vandals is that the railway is not your canvas, and clearing up this criminal damage is a huge waste of taxpayers’ money which could be better spent improving passenger journeys.”

Rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris MP, said: “We’ve been clear that the blight of graffiti on our railways must be tackled, and I am delighted to see Network Rail continue to focus on dealing with the problem.

“Removing graffiti across the network will improve our railway and make stations and services more pleasant for passengers, as they return following the pandemic.”

Graffiti is a blight on the railway and Network Rail spends £3.5m every year cleaning offensive material.

It is also extremely dangerous for those trespassing onto tracks to commit acts of vandalism, as well as being a criminal offence.

Incidents of graffiti can be reported to Network Rail’s 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.