BALLINA Town Council has resolved to get tough to those responsible for graffiti in the town.
Council members were shocked when photographs of some crude graffiti in the Teeling Street car park in town were circulated at their monthly meeting on September 20 last.
The problem had been highlighted by Cllr Johnny O’Malley who tabled a motion that the Council adopt a bye law to deal with what he termed as “a particularly crude anti social behaviour that is becoming more and more prevalent in Ballina”.
He said those responsible for the graffiti were so insensitive and taking from the good work done by so many in the community such as the Tidy Towns committee.
He recommended that the Council adopt a bye law to make the practice an offence and that offenders be punished by means of community service involving the removal of the graffiti rather than fines.
“This impacts on people’s view of the town and their enjoyment of the town. I’m not interested in fines. I’m interested in naming and shaming, catching the culprits and making them take the time to remove the graffiti,” he concluded.
Cllr Peter Clarke agreed and added that the gardai should also be advised of instances of graffiti.
Cllr Willie Nolan was also supportive of the proposals. He noted that road signs were also being subjected to graffiti whereby town names and mileage was being obliterated. The Councillors said this was detrimental for local tourism.
Reflecting on the photographs circulated to the Council, Cllr Michelle Mulherin said it was almost a compliment to refer to it as graffitti - it was “pure tripe”.
She noted Cllr Nolan’s remark that graffiti was considered an art form in some parts of the world. In Ballina’s French twin town of Athis Mons graffiti was being cultivated under the right type of environment.
Cllr Mary Kelly mused that those who engage in graffiti can be very intelligent. A sign in the Greenhills Estate warning of “Ramps ahead” had been quickly transformed to read “Tramps ahead”.
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