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by Tricia Jamieson

tjamieson@thekmgroup.co.uk

This graffiti-strewn home has been repainted - against the
owner's wishes.

Contractors employed by Shepway council moved in yesterday
morning.

Black paint graffiti has covered the terraced property in
Pavilion Road, Folkestone, for months.

The council will recover the £1,340 cost of the work from the
house owner, Lance Williams.

The work has not come soon enough for other
residents in the street.

One, who did not want to named, said: "We are really pleased it
has started.

"It is not before time. Cars have been stopping outside to have
a look and people have been along taking photographs and asking us
about it.

"It may be funny for them but for us it has been horrible and I
have not wanted to go out.

"We had an estate agent round and he estimated it had knocked
£10,000 off the price of our house."

The state of the property was first highlighted by the Express
and our sister paper the Folkestone & Hythe Extra in September,
last year.

Black paint had been thrown up against the door, windows and
brickwork.

Symbols, drawings and the words 'Pcyho House" were daubed on the
walls.

After we raised the matter, Shepway council served an untidy
site notice on Mr Williams under the Town and Country Planning Act
which required him to clean off the graffiti.

Council spokesman Sarah Smith said: "We have asked him to do the
work a couple of times then said we would do it and did not hear
anything from him.

"We will be taking steps to recover the cost of the work. We are
not doing this out of taxpayers' money."

Mr Williams did not want to comment yesterday.