SHOPKEEPERS are being forced by Redbridge Council to either remove graffiti on their premises, or pay for the council to remove it.

Council officers have visited 300 shops across the borough since the start of the year to warn them that they had to get rid of graffiti.

Redbridge cabinet member for community safety, Mark Aaron, said that 71 had removed the graffiti and another 229 had been sent letters telling them that if they did not, the council would remove it for them and send them the bill.

Speaking at an area one committee meeting, he said: "There will be people who say it's not fair that they have to clear off the graffiti and, in a perfect world, I would agree with that but do people want to go shopping where its covered in graffiti?"

Snaresbrook ward councillor, Sue Nolan, told him: "I believe that business rates are exorbitant in some parts of the borough. Surely to God we should be looking at the perpetrators and not penalising our excellent traders in Wanstead High Street. I think your judgement is slightly flawed."

Councillors were discussing the borough's street enforcement group which started work in April and is designed to use new legal powers to tackle environmental issues from littering and flytipping to abandoned vehicles.

Councillors complained that in that time only one Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) had been issued in Wanstead, with Cllr Michelle Dunn calling for at least 14 a week.

Council officer Russell Ward, who is in charge of the new group, said that before a FPN was issued a letter would be sent giving the offender 14 days to remove the item, followed by a section 92 notice giving another 28 days. Despite this he insisted that the number of FPNs was likely to increase in the future.

He added: "We're only two months in, we're a new team and learning the ropes but our progress is now having some effect out on the streets."