A Call for Total Action Against Graffiti on Rye Lane

I am writing in response to your recent announcement regarding the stepped up action on graffiti and flyposting across our town centres, as outlined in your article published on 2 May 2025: “Southwark Council steps up action on graffiti and flyposting in town centres”. This is a very welcome step, now it's time to put that into action.

The time has come to do what has long been needed: to undertake a complete and uncompromising removal of all graffiti across the entirety of Rye Lane. This is not the moment for partial gestures. A line in the sand must be drawn. We must send a clear and immediate message that graffiti is no longer tolerated in Peckham, in any form, anywhere.

This means a total clean up, I mean every wall, shopfront, shutter, doorway, alleyway, bin, lamppost, and every single public surface needs to be cleaned. While graffiti remains visible on Rye Lane, especially in prominent or neglected spots, it sends a message that this behaviour is accepted or ignored. The worst offenders are the harder to reach areas, such as high up on buildings, under the bridges, above signage, where graffiti often stays untouched for years. By leaving it in place, the signal is clear: if it’s hard to clean, it’s allowed to stay. That must change.

Nothing short of full removal will succeed. Anything less will see graffiti return within weeks. This has been a cycle for decades. If we are serious about reclaiming Rye Lane for local residents, traders, and visitors, then a zero-tolerance, total removal policy is the only way forward.

With the Council now holding both new powers and new funding, and with the upcoming redevelopment of the public square in front of Peckham Rye Station, there is no better moment to act. This is a unique opportunity to move Peckham Rye out of the shadows and into the future: cleaner, safer, and more reflective of what the local community wants and deserves.

Let’s finally give Rye Lane the fresh start it needs.