Labour council condemned for ‘wasting’ nearly £50k on ‘childish’ mural in dark underpass that forced schoolchildren to walk in the road
A Labour-run council in Nottinghamshire has been criticised after a mural in a dark A1 underpass in Tuxford cost £47,731, nearly double its £25,000 budget. The project drew further anger because the pavement was blocked during painting, forcing schoolchildren to walk in the road, and residents questioned whether the artwork was worth the expense.
The council said temporary traffic lights and other safety measures significantly increased costs after concerns were raised once work had begun. Funded through a £1 million town streetscaping allocation granted in 2024, the mural depicts aspects of Tuxford’s history and heritage. Residents suggested the money could have supported community facilities, while the council said it aimed to improve the town centre and attract visitors.
- Tuxford’s underpass mural cost £47,731, £22,000 over budget.
- Traffic management costs rose after pavement safety concerns.
- Residents questioned the mural’s value and location.
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A mural painted in a dark underpass beneath the A1 road in Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, has cost a local Labour council £47,731 to complete. The project was originally budgeted at £25,000, but costs nearly doubled after safety measures were introduced once work had begun.
During the painting work, the pavement beneath the road was closed, forcing schoolchildren in the area to walk in the adjacent roadway. The mural depicts aspects of Tuxford's local history and heritage as part of a wider scheme to improve the town centre and attract visitors.
Some residents have questioned whether the money was well spent, suggesting it could have supported community facilities instead. The council said temporary traffic lights and other safety provisions were necessary, and the project was funded through a £1 million town streetscaping allocation granted in 2024.
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The case for
Public art investment is a legitimate strategy for town centre regeneration, used successfully by councils nationwide. The budget overrun reflects necessary safety measures—temporary traffic lights and protective infrastructure—where responsible councils cannot economise. The £1 million streetscaping allocation was specifically designated for such projects. A mural depicting local heritage can meaningfully improve community pride, economic vitality, and the town's appeal to visitors, with genuine long-term benefits for a place needing revitalisation.
The case against
The project cost nearly doubled despite prior planning, raising serious questions about financial stewardship and project management. More fundamentally, critics question whether public art in a dark underpass represents optimal use of limited community resources, particularly given that the work caused genuine disruption—forcing schoolchildren into traffic—suggesting inadequate planning. With communities facing pressures on services and facilities, the argument that £47,731 could have delivered more tangible community benefits through, say, improved infrastructure or services, is reasonable and deserves serious weight.