Graffiti News

A mural in the A1 underpass at Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, has drawn criticism over its cost. According to the Manchester Evening News, Bassetlaw District Council budgeted £25,000 for the artwork, but the final bill came to £47,000 — £22,000 over budget. The mural covers both sides of the A1 underpass on Lincoln Road.

Why did the Tuxford mural cost nearly double?

Temporary traffic lights caused most of the overspend. The Manchester Evening News reports that the artist's materials and ladders blocked the footpath, forcing pedestrians and schoolchildren to walk in the road, and the council had to pay for temporary signals to make the route safe. The council admitted the traffic lights "significantly contributed to the additional costs".

Via East Midlands, which provides road maintenance services for Nottinghamshire County Council, initially granted the council a licence for the work. A Via East Midlands spokesperson said that after complaints about schoolchildren walking in the road, an inspection led to discussions with the council about making the site safe. The spokesperson said the safety of pedestrians and road users was the priority, even though the extra measures raised the cost.

What does the mural show?

The mural depicts Tuxford's history and heritage. According to the report, it shows the town's role as a major coaching hub in the 1800s, its connection to the brewing industry, and a 1702 fire that almost wiped out the town. The project was approved in 2024 and completed in August 2026, and the artist worked with a local school, a charity and a community group.

The mural is one part of a wider spending programme. Tuxford received £1 million in Town Streetscaping Funding in 2024 through Bassetlaw District Council. Around £335,000 has been spent so far on shop frontages, extra CCTV, park play equipment, defibrillators, speed reduction signs and market stalls.

How have residents and the council responded?

Some residents object to both the cost and the location. Peter Chojnacki, a 75-year-old retired trucker who has lived in Tuxford all his life, told the Manchester Evening News the mural "looks like something a child would do at school" and is hard to see in a dark underpass. He said nearly £50,000 would have been better spent on a village hall or community space. Another resident, who was not named, said the mural looks like graffiti at first glance and that nobody wants to linger in an underpass on a busy road.

The council defends the project. Councillor Steve Scotthorne, cabinet member for planning, identity and place, told the BBC: "It is something nice to see on a dull underpass. Not everyone will like what they see but it's about giving Tuxford a positive outlook and getting visitors in." He called the cost disappointing but said the council wants town centres to thrive.

What the Tuxford case shows about public murals

The dispute is less about the painting than about how public murals get delivered. Working in an underpass that doubles as a walking route meant closing a footpath, and the safety cost only became clear after work had started. Residents' reactions mix two separate questions: whether they like the image, and whether the council spent the money well.

For people who follow murals, the Tuxford underpass is both a piece of local history on a wall and a case study in public-art budgets. Anyone visiting should remember it sits beside heavy A1 traffic and stay on the footpath. If you document murals near you, you can pin them on the Wallscape map.

Source: Manchester Evening News