High-tech lasers are being used to remove graffiti from a wall next to Newcastle’s Town Moor.
Local councillor Doc Anand and the Gosforth Against Graffiti group are hoping to raise £10,000 to clean up the wall along Grandstand Road and protect it from being vandalised in the future.
The Conservative councillor brought in Sunderland-based specialists ISR Laser Cleaning, whose technology effectively vaporises the paint sprayed on the surface of the wall without damaging the stone underneath.
Afterwards, the wall is then treated with a special coating so that any future graffiti can be easily wiped off.
Work first began on the project this summer and a second phase of the cleanup was undertaken in November, with £2,500 having been raised through public donations so far to carry out the graffiti removal.
Cllr Anand, who this year became the first Conservative councillor elected in Newcastle for more than 30 years, said the sight of the wall covered in graffiti “makes you feel frightened”.
The former GP added: “I am delighted to have worked closely with local residents and organisations to finally bring an end to the graffiti on the wall. Local residents are proud to live in Gosforth – I share this pride and I am pleased to report back that we have been able to deliver this result.
“Using the latest, safest technology to remove the graffiti by laser, the eyesore has been transformed back into its original condition after plaguing our community for long enough.
“I will continue to tackle and make progress on graffiti in Gosforth. No matter how big or small, it is not welcome in our area.”
The Freemen of Newcastle, who manage the Town Moor in partnership with Newcastle City Council, said they “support any activity to enhance the area”.
Their chair, David Wilson, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that while graffiti can be an artform, the Grandstand Road site was “not the place for it”.
He added: “This is a great community initiative and we are very happy with it.”
