• Environment

    Graffiti blight strikes Llandudno again with ‘disgusting’ Great Orme vandalism

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    By Andrew Forgrave

    Copyright dailypost

    Graffiti blight strikes Llandudno again with 'disgusting' Great Orme vandalism

    Graffiti daubed on the Great Orme has left people lamenting the deteriorating respect shown to Llandudno’s natural and cultural assets. The words “RANA” and “KURD” were spray-painted on a rock lining Marine Drive just past the Toll House.

    Accompanied by Arabic script, the message is not thought to be offensive or overtly political. Although Kurdish graffiti seen in the UK often references struggles for a homeland by the world’s largest stateless nation, the Great Orme vandalism may just be a name tag. Even so, it was labelled “disgraceful” online.

    Conwy Council has said the defaced rock will be cleaned up. A spokesperson said: “Graffiti is illegal and will be removed. This vandalism costs public money to clean it up.”

    In recent weeks local authorities have been battling a spate of graffiti as people express national pride, sometimes in response to rising tensions over immigration. In Llandudno, North Wales Police launched a hate crime investigation after a painted Welsh flag replaced a flag of St George on a mini-roundabout, along with “obscene anti-English slogans”.

    Earlier this year Anglesey Council cleaned up a “mindless and idiotic” piece of graffiti at the small cove of Porth y Santes near Porth Swtan (Church Bay).

    The Marine Drive graffiti has sparked calls for greater vigilance in the area. It follows the theft of a bronze Queen Victoria bust from Happy Valley in January, and ongoing damage to historic WWII gun emplacements on the Great Orme.

    “Shouldn’t protecting the town’s heritage be its number 1 priority?” asked one man on social media. “Really needs to be more CCTV around the Orme.” Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community

    In August, a 60ft Christian cross on the Orme headland was disassembled and the stones used to create a Star of David. Having been part of the Great Orme landscape for more than half a century, the cross was swiftly restored by local people.

    Recent incidents, combined with the littering of streets and beaches, has shown that tourism often comes at a price.

    Others claim local people are just as much to blame. Following the latest graffiti, this received short shrift from those appalled by the vandalism. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

    “We locals are certainly not angels!” said a man online. “But we most certainly wouldn’t go around destroying our beauty by daubing such disgusting messages.”

    Conwy Council is asking residents to highlight graffiti through its online Report It map. Alternatively, incidents can be reported via the ERF (Environment, Roads and Facilities) Advice Team by emailing erf@conwy.gov.uk or calling 01492 575337.

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