£10K graffiti busting crackdown hits Grand Union Canal

It’s good news Leighton Buzzard’s residents, walkers and waterway-users as a powerful new £10,000 pressure washer is helping volunteers crack down on graffiti along the Grand Union Canal.

With half term in full swing, local MP Alex Mayer joined Canal and River Trust volunteers as they put the new industrial-grade machine through its paces, blasting graffiti from canal bridges and walls as part of efforts to keep the canal looking its best for all.

The specialist equipment, which draws and recycles water directly from the canal, allows volunteers to tackle known graffiti hotspots more quickly than before.

The idea is to remove the graffiti rapidly to help discourage repeat vandalism.

That’s because tagging remains a persistent challenge along urban stretches of the canal, including in and around Leighton Buzzard. Cleaning up graffiti costs the waterways charity £1 million a year.

Ms Mayer rolled up her sleeves to join the Trust’s clean-up team and help them put the new machine into action.

The Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard MP said: "It’s so disappointing for the town when sections of the canal are damaged by thoughtless behaviour. That’s why I’m grateful to volunteers who work so hard to restore these heavily used walking and cycling routes. This impressive new pressure washer is making a real difference and helping volunteers remove graffiti far more quickly than before. The Grand Union Canal is one of Leighton Buzzard’s greatest assets. Keeping it spic and span, means it’s more welcoming and enjoyable for everyone and that’s good for tourism and the local economy.”

Ros Daniels, Regional Director at Canal & River Trust, said: "This new graffiti-removal equipment is a game changer for our local team based in Leighton Buzzard.

"It allows volunteers and colleagues to target graffiti hotspots quickly and effectively, helping us maintain a cleaner, more welcoming canal environment and discourage repeat offending."

The Canal & River Trust is encouraging local residents to report graffiti to help them protect and maintain its canal network.

That network contributes more than £1.5 billion annually and supports 80,000-plus jobs.