Volunteers from Network Rail joined the Severnside Community Rail Partnership and local residents to help clean graffiti from community murals at Redland and Montpelier stations. The artworks are located at known graffiti hotspots and had been spray-painted and defaced.
Cotham Gardens Primary School children collaborated with local artists Dave Bain and Zoe Power to create the colourful murals in 2019. The original artwork had been coated in specialist anti-graffiti varnish, so the team was able to restore the murals.
READ MORE: Live: Bristol train chaos due to 'track fault'
The newly-formed local Friends of Montpelier Station and Friends of Redland Station groups took part in the efforts.
Network Rail’s community support manager for community rail Máedóc Ellis said: “Graffiti makes the railway look untidy for passengers and those who live nearby, so it was great to be able to assist the Severnside Community Rail Partnership and local residents to bring the murals back to life and cleanse them of unsightly graffiti.
“Working with community groups to enhance station environments brings further social benefits to the railway and helps to promote sustainable travel while bringing people together on projects that benefit the wider community. We’ll continue to work with Severnside Community Rail Partnership and local residents in Bristol to make sure our network is safe and welcoming for everyone.”
Severnside Community Rail Partnership community development officer Faye Keane said: "We were delighted to have the support of Network Rail volunteers to clean the vibrant murals at Redland and Montpelier, both of which had huge community input from local schools.
“It was also an opportunity to bring along the Friends of Redland and Montpelier stations to try their hand at tag removal - something they had been a little anxious to attempt themselves.
“The volunteer activity caught the attention of the local station users, allowing them to see the people behind the good work done to keep the station environments welcoming and creative. I'd like to say a big thank you on behalf of Severnside CRP to those who gave up their time."
Volunteers from the Friends of Montpelier Station group recently cleared weeds at the small one-platform station, which now has a ticket machine.
READ NEXT:
