CITY of York Council’s website states that the council aims to remove offensive graffiti within 24 hours and non-offensive in four working days.

Unfortunately this service only applies to public property, such as street furniture. Businesses and homeowners are responsible for cleaning their own properties. Clearly the cost of removal of graffiti can be considerable and come straight off the “bottom line”. Consequently it is not high on the agenda when budgets for expenditure are being set.

A couple of months ago the eight-foot high wall at the back of the Marriott Hotel in Tadcaster Road was attacked. This is immediately behind the racecourse and will be picked up by TV cameras covering all York’s race meetings. I do hope that it will be cleared before the first meeting on May 13.

Trevor Richardson, Bramble Dene, York.