A NEW £5,000-a-year scheme to keep Chesham free of graffiti has been dropped because councillors say people should clean up their own properties.

The idea was that Chesham Town Council would pay a cleaning contractor to remain on constant stand-by to clean off graffiti as it appears.

Chesham town councillor David Ponting (Lib Dem, Waterside) said the scheme would could win financial backing from Chesham retailers and traders who are sick of vandals blighting the town.

He explained: "£5,000 to keep the whole town centre clear of graffiti is not a large amount of money.

"I would have thought this would be an ideal solution. It's a shame – we should lead the way on this."

The council's town centre revitalisation committee threw out the plan on Monday, choosing to concentrate on cleaning just council property.

It does have limited powers to deal with the problem and can instruct a contractor to remove graffiti. However, the council has no powers to charge any costs of a clean-up operation to property owners.

Chesham Town Mayor Cllr Tony Reed (Lib Dem, Waterside) said landowners should foot the bill for graffiti on their property.

He said: "Our fundamental job is to clean up our bit and other people to clean up their bit. People should be encouraged to clean up their own property."

Cllr Patricia Lindsley (Lib Dem, Newtown) said any council-led scheme to clean up graffiti in the town would be risky because contractors would run the danger of damaging private property.