Should the council pay to clean up private businesses' fronts?

[Nigello]

It used to be that the council would pay for vandalism on shop fronts/shutters (tags, etc.) to be cleaned off. Now, apparently, it does not.

Should it set money aside for this, or should businesses do it themselves? (Few do, unfortunately, even as retail needs a boost).

[womanofdulwich]

arent they insured for this?

[Nigello]

Maybe, but very few can be bothered to clean up their properties once vandalised, in my experience, even the big chains. Council should perhaps explain more clearly the benefits of doing so.

[womanofdulwich]

But their landlords will hold them responsible, nothing to do with the council.

[Nigello]

It is if the council is making an effort and spending money to improve things for retailers and shoppers alike. I doubt you?d prefer nothing to be done. More attractive streets mean more footfall and more spending, I?d say, which ought to encourage landlords or owners to make their properties look as welcoming as possible.

[legalalien]

Sounds like a job for Boris? fluorescent-jacketed chain gangs.

In seriousness though I do think it?s a good idea. I?d rather have council money spent on that than on the various banners etc that they put up around the place.

ETA I wonder if there?s a way to apply for funding for this kind of thing out of the cleaner/ greener or neighbourhoods fund. Maybe through a small business association or something? The grants are structured so that independent organisations apply for funding rather than asking Southwark to do a task, I wonder if there?s a way around it. Maybe a residents assn, small business group or something set up to deal with local graffiti.

[Nigello]

There was a thread on here, or perhaps buried in another thread, by a councillor about council efforts to help retail, hence my question. I do find it odd that businesses let their frontages look uninviting and ugly, especially after a massive downturn in high street shopping.

[sally buying]

After cleaning you frontage a few times why would you waste more money when the idiots come back and do it again and again.

Perhaps they, the powers that be should capture a few of these people and make them clean it off with a toothbrush.

Pigs will, fly free tickets to Chessington World of Adventure is the likely outcome.

[JohnL]

Nigello Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> There was a thread on here, or perhaps buried in

> another thread, by a councillor about council

> efforts to help retail, hence my question. I do

> find it odd that businesses let their frontages

> look uninviting and ugly, especially after a

> massive downturn in high street shopping.

The Coop funeral business used to clean the side of their building every time and it was back within days

There's been a big "Ricky" there now for a while - maybe its not as bad as some so they left it being the better of two evils

TUPI Peckham has painted their shutters green and no graffiti for 7 days - wonder if it's special paint.

[Nigello]

I?ve now learnt that the council no longer offers their service free. It?s shortsighted. Perhaps ultra-local schemes to revitalise retail could reinstate it.