SHOWCASING the story of chadwell heath

Chadwell Heath Station has been positioned on the bridge overlooking the railway lines, on Station Road, for 125 years. Station Road is a vital thoroughfare in Chadwell Heath, leading into the heart of Becontree and forming the border between the London Borough of Redbridge and the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. Every day thousands of pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles travel up and down this main artery in their daily commute.

As it is such a heavily-used road, graffiti has always been an issue. Street artists regularly spray distasteful tags on the walls and the amenities leading all the way down Station Road; from the telephone booth and the post box, to the Bus Stop A Shelter and the Chadwell Ward Noticeboard. Having canvassed opinions from many local residents and business owners, the general consensus is that people are disappointed in seeing Station Road being tarnished again; having only recently been refurbished with new paving stones and street lighting by Barking & Dagenham Council within the past few years.

Street graffiti is a difficult issue to tackle. The wide walls on Station Road are open to vandalism as they are likely being seen as blank canvases. Removing existing graffiti is only a short-term solution, as it opens the affected wall up to new defacement.

We are in talks with MTR Elizabeth Line and BeFirst (Barking & Dagenham Council’s regeneration company) to create a permanent mural, painted along the entire walls of Station Road, depicting famous figures, symbols, local landmarks and historic scenes of Chadwell Heath. Good public art exists to enrich our everyday lives. Adorning our walls with artwork may set an example to those who seek to deface public property, especially as it highlights Chadwell Heath’s heritage.

This mural can help the public understand what makes Chadwell Heath so special and why it should be cherished, perhaps leading to greater respect for our town and its amenities.

We are inspired by the regular art installations at Gloucester Road Station, David Gentleman’s murals at Charing Cross Station, the tile murals at Hyde Park Corner Subway depicting the history of the area, Tottenham Court Road Station’s permanent installation by Daniel Buren and mosaic by Eduardo Paolozzi, Aliza Nisenbaum’s mural at Brixton Station and ‘The Bower of Bliss’ by Linder for Southwark Station.

Illuminating the mural at night, with overhanging lanterns or floor-level spotlights, would increase street safety and make the journey to and from Chadwell Heath Station, via Station Road, feel safer.

The Elizabeth Line has been dubbed the ‘Culture Line’, and commissions for the Crossrail Art Foundation’s new public art programme (at seven stations in the Central London section) have already been agreed. Nothing has been planned in our section of East London, and this community project is seeking to change that.