“i think some people posting here seem confused as to what has been proposed (and implemented, here). A LEGAL painting site is somewhere designated, for legitimate artists to perfect and display their craft, an average piece often taking hours, and costing a substantial amout of money to complete. The painters i know personally would never dream of "painting scrawl over every wall they come across" !
They are focused, talented, and responsible individuals with as much right to express themselves as anyone else.
Ok, so someone gets punched in the face and ends up in QMC during a night out in town (or out of town). What action is taken? if the culprit is caught, and they pay for their actions through the legal system, in exactly the same way as an illegal "tagger" would. So do you propose that all the legitimate and LEGAL boxing clubs, martial arts dojos, and other physical arts centres be closed down, following the actions of some misguided people? Thus punishing the trained and focused individuals who have been training in their craft (within the full consent of the law) for decades without ever crossing the line into law breaking?
Many folks utilising legal painting sites will probably not transfer their passion for art to the streets outside your home if their painting playgrounds are closed, because they're law abiding citizens!
However honourable(?), Jon Collins attempts to clean up the City will surely be met by a perpetual wave of displacement, aside from the actual perpetrators barely being effected, as they continue to tag, and vandalise, as before, only now there will be no opportunity for them to redirect their actions into something which could actually benefit the community, and themselves.”

“What some of you don't understand is that we have to keep the young rabble in line. It is not their place, to express themselves in this way. Rather, they should restrict their forms of self-expression to the safe and prescribed methods that our wise and upstanding institutions have so benevolently made available. Either that or go and spray the council buildings!

Hahahahaha”

“I used to paint at the halls of fame in Nottingham almost every weekend during the late 90s with Dilk and the other active writers of that era.
Most of us were in art college at the time and used to visit these legal sites to hang out together, draw sketches, have a laugh and paint pieces.
These same guys who I used to paint with at Arches, Russells, Adventure, Bloom Wood and Gedling have now gone onto jobs which include owning an art supply/fashion shop in Hockley, managing director of a Nottingham based graphic design company, artist with his own studio/gallery, freelance web designer, fashion photographer based in London and advertising art director based in Holland.
Are we artists or vandals???”

“I'm surprised graffiti is such a major issue...especially in carlton. One of the single most right-wing, new world, fascist, totalitarian decrees I've ever witnessed.
I'm sure people like John of Carlton will cry when 'they' ban booze, smokes, city parking, football emblems they may offend, lights after 10pm whatever.
Council needs to spend more time saving money this sounds counter productive the hotspots will only disperse throughout the city.
Oh well looks like I'll never paint again.......better find a new hobby.”

“I am an office manager. For a large corporation within nottingham and have a reputable high level job, I am also a 'graffiti' artist of 22 years, I travel all over the UK doing my hobby in a legal capacity I paint bog murals and pictures using spray paint as my medium.does this make me a vandal because of the tools that I use? I have painted these youth centres and legal areas I have for many years and have only ever had positive response from all generations, to call this artform vandalism is to call rushing barbaric blood sports. There is always going to be a minority that engages in illegal activities and that is vandalism but is a big mural painted in paint deemed the same? I am never going to paint illegally but I can see how other people with less to lose will be forced to write on the side of daz and johns garage or house because they have nowhere to go and do anything legally.”

“Graffiti belongs on trains and walls it can never be eradicated and legal sites can never really capture the essence of graffiti.
graffiti is anti social that is its defining grace and what makes it such a special form of art , created by and for the youth it has become oh so much more.
coming soon to a wall near you ........... because we can.
I WRITE THEREFORE I AM .
This is Britain 2010 baby.”

“is that really the real popz? i have really fond memories of your work. glad to know your still around. as notanoldfart said, LEGEND!!!”

“popz!? legend..”

“As somebody that has appreciated and painted graffiti from the early days back in the late eighties.

Legal sites give those that use the true medium of Graffiti a place to prove what the meaning and value of graffiti is, and that it has truly evolved from tagging in to a valid art form.

Nottingham City Council will regret taking this senseless narrow-minded decision.

Legal sites are the only forward to encourage the young kids that do cause mindless vandalism to focus their energy and artistic skills towards some thing that can have a positive effect on their well being and the places that legal graffiti can be appreciated. If these close it will spread! If more sites are made available then it will be a step in the right direction to clean up the city and make Nottingham a place to be appreciated for the respect of valued artistic expression, in my opinion.

Where will the Council draw a line for self-expression through any artistic medium?

Does this mean that in the not too distant future that people will be banned from exposing or displaying tattoos in public? Due to the perception that tattoo'd people are all gang related! These are issues that narrow minded people have when they do not understand something or some one.

Much love and respect to the people that have helped to evolve a true art form Nottingham. You all know who you are.”

“Lee 'R.One' Watts and myself were responsible for the first 5 'pieces' to ever go up down at the arches back in 1989. Here we are 21 years later and what can I say about such interesting developments ? The way I see it is that 'all is change' and 'a change is as good as a rest'... as they say. Life is continually evolv...ing toward relative perfection in my opinion and will continue to do so. This latest development is just part of that process. As all concerned determine to find there own 'happy place' amidst the scramble for freedom and control...new and better forms will emerge from the resulting chaos of such differing opinions.... where consequence reigns supreme in this thing we sometimes call society. HAPPY KARMA CREATING. 1 LOVE :)”