Rayners Lane graffiti removed in council clean-up

The latest Harrow Council Week of Action kicked off yesterday (Dec 8) in Rayners Lane with fly-tippers, rubbish dumpers and traders who block pavements among the main targets.

Environmental officers and the police once more joined forces for the latest in the series of week-long initiatives, which this time centres on the stretch of Rayners Lane close to Rayners Lane tube station. The busy thoroughfare is home to scores of traders and residents in flats.

Teams kicked off by removing graffiti, planting flowerbeds, and ensuring that busy pavements are not obstructed by boxes or shop stalls. Rear entrance roads to shops will also be checked to ensure food is kept in proper conditions.

Harrow Council has put up a series of posters promoting a clean and green message in Rayners Lane - ensuring one which warns fly-tippers that they could face a £50,000 fine for their selfish actions.

Harrow Council has carried out 10 weeks of action since the scheme kicked off in October 2007. More are already schemed in for 2009.

Cllr Susan Hall, Harrow Council's portfolio holder for environment services, said: "Fly-tipping and graffiti dumping are eyesores which can really drag an area down.

"All the weeks of action are designed to be intensive clean-ups. But they also become the start of a relationship for some residents with the council, or the Safer Neighbourhood Teams, and they are designed to show local people that Harrow is getting better - starting with the streets they live on."