‘Graffiti’ mural for Leeds and Liverpool Canal

A huge graffiti-style mural is being planned to brighten up a vandal-plagued Burnley canal bridge.
Burnley artBurnley art
Burnley art

The colourful artwork has been designed as part of a £40,000 project to enhance a stretch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in the town.

The 12m long piece of street art depicts Burnley’s history and is planned for the Pendle Way Bridge along the waterway near Whittlefield.

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A painted cast iron archway leading on to the towpath near Tunnel Street and Ighten Lane is also being proposed.

The idea was dreamed up by the Stepping Stones Centre which runs a support centre for young adults at Whittle Court.

The organisation has partnered with the Canal and Rivers Trust, Burnley Council and Proffitts – as well as recruiting East Lancashire artists Action Factory.

More than 600 residents completed a survery to kickstart the project. Neighbours and pupils from St mary Magdalene’s School have helped create the eye-catching designs.

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The project has seen the community getting involved in litter picks along the canal as well as making bird boxes, hanging baskets and tree planting.

Neighbours, residents and young people from Stepping Stones have helped create the designs bring the project to life.

The project has also enabled young people from the Spa Street centre to gain qualifications.

Rachael Gildert, the applicant on behalf of Proffitts, said: “The whole project is rooted in the community from this starting point. The young people at Stepping Stones housing project charity were keen to make improvements to tidy up the canal side and improve the area for the local community and improve views from their windows.

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“The responses to the consultation have helped to shape the project and bring different members of the community together to work on the project development over the past two years.

“Both the mural and archway have been designed by local people through a series of workshops.

“The mural is colourful and depicts local scenes. It will be a hidden piece of artwork that will enhance the experience for walkers and those on boats.”

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