A PARISH councillor has described graffiti on a new footbridge as 'awful' and says he reported it to the police 'months ago'.
John Renshaw says he lodged a report about the graffiti on Broomhall Way Footbridge to West Mercia Police last November after we revealed many of the bridge supports had been covered in graffiti tags.
EYESORE: The Broomhall Way Bridge viewed from the Norton side (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
The bridge over the A4440 Southern Link Road (Broomhall Way) from St Peter's (Power Park) to Norton was opened to the public less than two years ago.
We reported last week how several supports for the Broomhall bridge, which opened in July 2021, have been covered in graffiti, including the tag 'Doom', an image of a rat and an anarchist symbol.
READ MORE: Graffiti covers Worcester footbridge which has only been open two years
Although, West Mercia Police said initially there was no record of it having been reported, they have since confirmed a report was made and that details were passed on by the force to Worcestershire County Council so action could be taken.
Mr Renshaw, who is on St Peter's Parish Council, said: "The graffiti looks awful. It’s not art, it’s an act of vandalism and should be dealt with as such. Local residents have to see it every time they use Power Park or the bridge. It also does nothing to create a positive first impression to visitors driving along Broomhall Way to visit Worcester."
He added that he had reported the graffiti to West Mercia last November, quoting the reference (DP-36118-22-2222-IR01) and that he received a confirmation email. Further correspondence revealed with police revealed that details had been handed to Worcestershire County Council.
A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said the graffiti had been reported and concerns passed on to Worcestershire County Council.
He said: "It was reported to us in November and we take criminal damage seriously as an offence and investigate that as a crime but any environmental crime does sit at the door of the local authority."
In a previous statement, Cllr Steve Mackay, Conservative city councillor for St Peter's, said: "Rather than referring to it as ‘graffiti’, those that are responsible are actually causing criminal damage and I know that the areas affected have been reported."
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council, which managed the Southern Link Road Scheme, said in a previous statement: “We are aware of graffiti on some of our footbridges and are working with our contractor to arrange for its removal.”
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