Council spends £30,000 on literary murals to improve Middlesbrough's visual variety

The first mural to appear in Middlesbrough - on the gable end of a Subway sandwich shop in Baker Street - contains quotes from Sherlock Homes’ The Five Orange Pips by Arthur Conan Doyle.

The mural is one of 10 pieces of literature - including poetry and quotes - which will adorn town centre buildings and walls.

The pieces, costing around £3,000 each, will also appear in Bedford Street and a Teesside University building King Edward’s Square.

The Public Poetry scheme is funded by Middlesbrough Council to improve the town’s overall vibrancy - days after it was announced the council tax will rise by 3.99 per cent.

PAGE: Quotes from Sherlock Holmes' tale on end of Baker Street building. Picture: Richard Raynor/North News 

Margaret Agar, 80, said: "They should be spending this money on housing. It could be spent on something better.

"It does not brighten up the area.

"The money could go to the bairns, and people who say they are unable to get housing.

"I think it is a waste of money. I think a lot of people will think it is a waste of money."

Brian Hodgson, 55, added: "If you are walking along the road you really have to stop and put your neck out and try and work it all out.

"I think the idea was right, but they have done it the wrong way.

"In that way it is a waste of money because it has not got the right effect. I think it could have been better spent elsewhere. The money has been misspent."

Jane Jorgenson, 53, who runs a shop on the street, said: "I think it is marvellous. People walk past and they can see something is going on.

"It makes people stop and take notice. I think it is a really good idea.

"Some people may not think it is good value for money but as a trader on the street, I do.

"It makes the place look nice, and I think we need a little bit of that around here. It brightens the place up."

But James Wall posted on social media: "Just get innovative local graffiti artists the opportunity that's all Rio, Berlin and London does. Waste of money when they are closing museums."

Sk Bob posted: "total waste cant even read full thing.?what's sherlock holmes got to do with teesside? why is it always baker street? £3000!!!!!!!boring basically"

Stephan Whitaker posted: "poor spending when there was homeless kids in middlesbroughs soup kitchens at Christmas"

Stanley Blagg added: "No wonder council tax going up."

Lewis Young, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for culture, media and sport, said: "There is a real confidence in Middlesbrough town centre at the moment with the Baker and Bedford Street and Orange Pip Markets really capturing the imagination of people.

“The Public Poetry is an extension of everything that is currently going on to add more variety into the town centre and to encourage more people to visit, for them to stay longer and have an even more enjoyable experience.”

Curator of the project, Nicky Peacock, said: "Research shows that projects such as this encourage mindfulness and a sense of discovery in a familiar environment.

"Current research into the multifunctionality of town centres encourages us to be flexible, responsive to change and open to ideas that enliven space.

"Town centres can once again become useful, lively and creative places that reflect the diversity of our communities – but not through retail alone."

MURAL: Initiative to improve town centre's vibrancy. Picture: Richard Raynor/North News 

However, John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "There's nothing wrong with trying to add a bit more colour to the town centre but local residents might wonder if this should be done at their considerable expense.

"This is quite a large sum of money and surely there is scope for allowing the private sector to take on the costs or even to allow schools to help out with design and painting.

"Middlesbrough Council are raising council tax by (almost) 4 per cent this year and most people expect that to go towards filling potholes and funding social care."

Jill Morgan, Dean of Teesside University’s School of Design, Culture & the Arts and the University's lead for Culture, said: "This is an imaginative and inspirational project which will both enrich the town’s cultural offer and builds on our important history of poetry and performance as a force for social and political change.

"Teesside University supports a wide breadth of cultural activity, both within the University and in the wider community.

"We are delighted to support this project and hope it will bring the work of Simon Armitage and other writers to a wider audience."