Council reports Northampton pub to police after graffiti appears on pavements just completed in multi-million pound scheme

St Giles Street, which has been open for less than two weeks, had it’s pavements daubed with slogans promoting the new menu at O’Neill’s in The Drapery.

The luminous painted signs encouraged people to follow them, with the trail ending in a final message outside the pub doors.

The paint was found in The Drapery, Fish Street and St Giles Street, which has only just undergone a £3 million refurbishment.

Members from the borough council’s planning enforcement team were not amused and identified the business involved.

Sending out a statement condemning the “illegal business graffiti”, the council instructed officers to visit the premises to explain that its actions contravene planning regulations... and added that the matter will be reported to the police.

A clean-up team from Northampton Borough Council and Northamptonshire County Council’s successfully removed the slogans from St Giles Street and Fish Street within a few hours of them being discovered on Thursday morning and “is pursuing the removal of the slogans from The Drapery.”

Leader of the borough council Jonathan Nunn, said. “We were shocked to see the graffiti around the town centre, especially on St. Giles Street which looked wonderful when it reopened just 10 days ago.

“It was even more upsetting to learn that the paint used may leave a permanent mark, but we acted as quickly as possible and have been successful in limiting the damage.”

O’Neill’s admitted to the Chron that the graffiti promoted their new menu, but refused to comment on any action taken by the council.

Councillor Nunn added: “I recognise that local businesses work hard to promote themselves and we support creative ideas. However, we also need to take fast and effective action, especially when an infringement damages areas that have recently had so much public investment to enhance them.”