Sir.-I must take exception with the boast that "Basingstoke is a place to be proud of".

I wish I could honestly make that claim. However, the recent blight of graffiti covering every road sign and wall in Kempshott and Hatch Warren, which has been left untouched for weeks, erodes any feeling of pride.

Graffiti left untouched will encourage more. Removing it straight away disheartens the offender, as his (or her) "trophy" work is systematically destroyed.

What happened to this wonderful graffiti-busting kit the council bought a year or two ago? Or is it that, as no one has complained loudly enough, the council thinks it will save money? But then it will only waste it on a profligate rearrangement of another roundabout.

I don't have a political bias and do not wish to score points off one party or another, but certain issues seem to attract more attention from local MPs than others.

I want to see a picture of Maria Miller next to one of the afflicted road signs with the promise that this will be sorted without delay.

There is no worse visual offence than the ugly, indiscriminate spraying of our infrastructure by immature youths.

Make Basingstoke a place to be proud of - by enforcing officials to sort out their elected duties.

Trevor Heath,
Lymington Close,
Basingstoke.