Great Western Coffee Shop

Good to see that the ugly scribble on the approaches to Paddington has been obliterated. If only NR had a zero tolerance policy like LUL in order to keep it that way. I fear it won't be long until it's all back again and if not immediately removed then it will encourage others.

I have a loathing of graffiti.  From my office window I can see the water tower just to the east west of Swindon station.  I am not sure how high it is but it rises above the rows of houses between me and the station.  Someone has managed to climb to the top of it and daub their "artwork" on it.  I saw a trio of workmen in hi-viz vests on it a couple of days ago so I am hoping it won't be long before it has been re-painted.  Though people having to risk life and limb to clear up after these idiots gets my blood pressure rising!

(edited to correct geography!)

The Arches railway bridge over the A38, between Montpelier and Redland stations in Bristol, was given a remarkable overhaul and repaint some years ago, which transformed it from nondescript to iconic. It's still good, but over the years, the upper parts have been daubed with the usual moronic "tags". I know it costs money, but there must be a way forward, to get this stuff removed quickly. Seems the best way would be for someone to write a racially offensive slogan - they get shifted quickly in Bristol, and the rest would be covered too. I'm not going to offer, BTW, as I would be hit by a train, then arrested and prosecuted, and would wonder forever "Why me?"
This could be a job for our new mayor.

The graffiti removal gang have been very busy over the last couple of months and virtually all graffiti has now been painted over between Paddington and Reading.  Not coincidental that the Olympics are round the corner perhaps?  But good to see crap that's been scrawled over walls for years has now gone.  Message to Network Rail: please keep on top of this now that you've done all this hard work- and don't just give these sad little scum a fresh canvas to paint over.  There are already fresh markings on the approach to Paddington (and a couple of spots around Old Oak Common that haven't been tackled yet), but it looks so much better.  And, great to see the historic Maidenhead Bridge completely free of graffiti for the first time I can remember!

When I worked for Railtrack a lot of effort was put into removing graffiti asap after it appeared. The "artists" will give up using locations where their work is removed quickly - ideally within hours.  The worst thing is to publicise it with photographs, as local papers sometimes do.