A Trowbridge pensioner has voiced concerns about the amount of graffiti in the town and fears that a toilet block planned for the park could quickly become a ‘blank canvas’ for graffiti artists.

Barrie Denham, 72, moved to Trowbridge from Farnborough in Hampshire 15 months ago and says he has been surprised by the amount of graffiti he has seen around the town centre.

“My observation is that Trowbridge has quite a lot of graffiti,” said Barrie. “I would expect it in East London but I did not think I would see quite so much in the countryside.

“I knew it was here and I know that a lot of it has been cleaned up but it spoils the image of the town, particularly for visitors.”

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Wiltshire Times: Graffiti on the former Knees building. Image: Trevor Porter77026-5Graffiti on the former Knees building. Image: Trevor Porter77026-5 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Denham, who formerly worked in the music industry, now spends his spare time sourcing parts for people who make and restore guitars.

He fears that the new toilet block – which should be installed at Trowbridge Town Park by the summer if planning approval is granted by Wiltshire Council – will become a ‘blank canvas’ for graffiti artists.

He added: “The toilets will be used by a lot of people and I am worried that they will become a blank canvas for graffiti artists again.”

Wiltshire Times: Graffiti in Narrow Wine Street. Image: Trevor Porter 77026-1Graffiti in Narrow Wine Street. Image: Trevor Porter 77026-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Denham fears the toilets will become a magnet for people engaging in anti-social behaviour in the town park late at night.

The town council demolished the previous public toilets in the town park in 2019 after finding they were being abused and misused by alcohol and drug users.

Since then there has been pressure to restore toilet in the park for the families and other people that use it for recreational purposes.

There are other areas of the town that have been targeted by graffiti artists, including the multi-storey car park at St Stephen’s Place.

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Wiltshire Times: Graffiti in Red Hat Lane. Image: Trevor Porter77026-6Graffiti in Red Hat Lane. Image: Trevor Porter77026-6 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Graffiti artists have also spray-painted slogans and images on parts of Narrow Wine Street, Red Hat Lane, White Hart Yard, Park Road, the former Knees building, and the Green Lane bus shelter, as well as a wall close to St James Church.

Cllr Stewart Palmen, the leader of Trowbridge Town Council, told the Times that Graffiti is an ongoing issue in the town.

He said: "we do our best to address but we are fighting a never-ending battle. As an example, Thursday last week the underpass was painted over. Friday morning its all been painted over again.

"It does seem that when we paint an area white it’s like a clean slate to be redone. The bus shelter on Green Lane was power washed three weeks ago and yes the graffiti has returned."

He said that some areas targeted are on a private building and are the owners responsibility to clean up.

"We need specific permissions from the owners before we can clean it off. We will keep on fighting this and using the CCTV to try to gain prosecution of those who are responsible," he added.