Graffiti eyesore paints poor image of Rochdale

The view of the graffiti from the platform at Rochdale Train Station

A building opposite Rochdale Train Station is an eyesore after vandals daubed it with graffiti.

The graffiti, which can easily be seen from the Leeds bound platform of Rochdale train station, has been on the building since November.

Owner of the property Shafiq Iqbal claims that Rochdale Council is unwilling to help him with the issue and is just turning a “blind eye”.

He said: “I have a friend who used to work at the council and once I realised it was there, he said I should contact my MP and the council and they can get it removed for me. I sent them a number of emails and didn’t hear anything back until the other day when I was told they no longer do graffiti removal in-house and that I have to have it removed myself. I was then given a website to go on.”

Rochdale Council says it will not remove the graffiti as it is on private property.

Mark Widdup, Director of Economy and Environment at Rochdale Council, said: “This graffiti was reported to us in November and we inspected it the same day. Unfortunately, as it has been painted on a private property, it is the owner’s responsibility and we cannot simply remove it. We have been in touch with the owner, advised him of this and recommended a graffiti removal company.”

Mr Iqbal says he is frustrated at the lack of help from the council.

He added: “I have spent almost £100,000 on getting that wall refurbished so it is a nice gable wall and I wanted to put advertising on it so I applied for planning permission and the council said no. But yet when someone else comes onto my property and paints the graffiti, they don’t want to help get it removed. They are just turning a blind eye to it and not helping at all.”

Mr Iqbal is now hoping to meet with Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk to discuss the issue in the hope that he will help him get the graffiti removed.

“This isn’t the only issue around the station and I hope Simon can help with not only the graffiti but the other problems we have around the area. He has confirmed he will meet me but now I just need to arrange a meeting with him and hopefully we can go from there,” he said.