Hucknall murals designs scrapped as council opts to think again
Ashfield Council has scrapped its intended designs for murals on Chapel Street and Central Walk in the town after negative feedback from residents.
The murals were originally planned as part of the £600,000 upgrade of the area around Central Walk and Chapel Street.
The Central Walk works were completed last month and the council revealed soon after the intended designs for murals on B&M on Chapel Street and the four gable ends of the Range on Central Walk.
But public reaction to the designs was not positive, with residents saying the designs looked ‘gaudy’ and ‘like something from a seaside town’ and the council has now opted to pause the project and start again.
In statement, the council said: “After listening to resident’s feedback on the designs, we have withdrawn the planning application for the mural on Chapel Street, and won't be implementing the mural design for Central Walk.
“The proposed mural designs were set to be painted as part of the wider programme of improvements to the pedestrian links between Piggins Croft and Hucknall high street.
“We have now paused the project to ensure that the community is on board with the designs.
"The process will start again, with a fresh tender for new designs that are a similar style to the other murals that have been painted in Sutton and Stanton Hill.
“It’s important that we get the designs right, so we are going back to the drawing board.
"We want the murals to be admired and evoke feelings of pride for years to come, and the current designs weren’t resonating with the community.
“The new mural in Stanton Hill has been extremely well received and is helping to create a greater sense of pride in the local community.
"That’s exactly what we want to see in Hucknall too.
"We will provide an update in the coming months when we have more to share.”