Sidley gets a big graffiti clean-up

Rother Safer Rother Partnership funding has been used in a joint operation with police.

Bexhill-based OSD Hydropower Services brought in an 800-litre capacity mobile washer trailer able to deliver a high-pressure jet at up to 150 degrees centigrade.

As operator Tony Baker set to work, graffiti vanished from walls and fences, shop windows and security shutters. Despite difficulties in parking close at hand, two days of early morning starts saw the task completed.

The operation has been welcomed by the head of Bexhill Neighbourhood Policing Team. Inspector Dick Coates, who helped plan the operation, said that thanks to Safer Rother Partnership funding, Sidley had been transformed.

The measure has also been welcomed by partnership chairman Cllr Eric Armstrong. He believes the clean-up is just the sort of project in which the partnership can play a leading role.

For the partnership, community safety coordinator Carol Studley said as work at the corner of Ninfield Road and Buxton Drive was completed yesterday morning: "We have been working with the Sidley Local Action Group, which is made up of local residents.

"They have identified the areas of graffiti they would like cleaned. They feel that getting a clean-up for Sidley gives a message to the public that Sidley is a good place to live in and to shop in and we support that.

"This is part of the work that we are doing for our property crime action group, which is chaired by Detective Inspector Mark Ling.

"We are now hoping to do a similar project in Rye. Later we hope to do one in Bexhill town centre where Bexhill Chamber of Commerce is identifying which areas they would like cleaned.

"The fact that we are able to employ a local business to undertake the clean-up here is a bonus."

Sidley's Police Community Support Officers Barbara Headley and Andy Smith are delighted with the clean-up.

Andy said: "This area in particular gives a far nicer 'welcome' now that it is cleaned."