A CREDITON businessman whose shop was targeted with Extinction Rebellion graffiti on Wednesday, September 18, says he believes the actions of Extinction Rebellion Crediton are alienating people against their cause.

Daniel Webb, of the Crediton Coffee Company, in Market Street, Crediton, said that the graffiti appeared on his shop during the morning and that he had spent some considerable time trying to remove it from the brickwork on which it appeared to have been stencilled.

He told the “Courier”: “I have spent a lot of time trying to make my shop look nice and recently won a prize in the Crediton Town Council Floral Crediton competition for the best small business frontage.

“In the past I have supported actions to change people’s attitudes to climate change and the impact we have on it but graffiti like this is detrimental to the community.

“I have scrubbed it as much as I can, it appears to be chalk paint, but it really is not coming off very well.

“I think it will always be visible because that part of the wall never gets wet even when it rains.

“This afternoon I have received apologies for the damage from two Extinction Rebellion members.

“I really hope the group is more thoughtful about how it protests in the future.

Mr Webb confirmed that he has reported the damage to the police and Crediton Town Council.

Pavements and a number of litter bins have also been the subject of XR graffiti in the town this week.

Recently the Crediton XR group was criticised for twice placing graffiti on a listed cob wall in Exeter Road, against the wishes of the wall owners.

Crediton XR member Imogen May told the “Courier” that an explanation for the graffiti “would come” and said that “awareness had been lifted” by the actions.

She was one of those who apologised to Mr Webb for the group’s damage to his property.

Crediton Town Council has a sub-committee looking at climate change and action to be taken and was recently hoping that Crediton XR members would play a constructive part.