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Councillors call for action on neglected gateway site

Stroud District Council’ Three people wearing khaki green, red and blue raincoats stand by a wall covered in graffiti with a solemn expression on their facesStroud District Council’
Councillors from Stroud District Council have been asking for graffiti to be removed from the heritage site for months

Concerns have been raised about the lack of maintenance at a neglected site, with councillors calling it an "anti-social hot spot".

The land, owned by the local council, serves as a key gateway to the Stroud District and is home to the historic Dudbridge Railway Station.

Local councillors have been asking for graffiti to be removed from the heritage site of the old Dudbridge Station wall for months, but Gloucestershire County Council said it only removes graffiti deemed "offensive."

Green district councillor Steve Hyndside said: "This site should be welcoming but feels abandoned."

Stroud District Council’ Three people with a solemn expression on their faces sit on a broken bench next to a busy road with cars and vans behind themStroud District Council’
The site on the outskirts of Stroud is in poor condition, with broken benches, a damaged fence, overgrown ivy, and a dirty bin

'An anti-social hotspot'

He added that last year, local residents cleared and repainted the area adjacent to Sainsbury's in Stroud, but basic maintenance of the site should not fall to them.

As well as graffiti on the historic station wall, the site is in poor condition, with broken benches, a damaged fence, overgrown ivy, and a dirty bin.

Labour county councillor Steve Robinson said: "This site should be regularly maintained, but it's in disrepair. It's an anti-social hotspot that needs attention."

Stroud District Council's litter champion, Green councillor Gill Thomas, also visited the site and said neglect could lead to increased anti-social behaviour.

She highlighted the district's efforts to use nature-friendly solutions for tagging issues, such as planting hedgerows along canals to protect walls.

"Across the district, we are pioneering nature-friendly solutions to addressing issues around tagging," Ms Thomas said.

"Along the canals for example we're planting hedgerows to protect walls that can also offer crucial habitats, but we know there isn't a one-size solution for every site."

Councillors are encouraging local businesses with the resources to assist with removing the graffiti to contact them and calling for volunteers to help tidy the area.

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