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Sept 2024
Council could spend £20,000 on car park mural in Harrogate
North Yorkshire Council is considering spending up to £20,000 on a ‘captivating and inspiring’ mural in Harrogate.
The mural would be created on the wall of the car park next to the bus station on Station Parade.
A council report describes the wall as an ‘eyesore’ and says the mural could become an ‘iconic symbol for the town’ that would appeal to residents and tourists.
The estimated £15,000 to £20,000 cost would cover the artist’s fee, the cost of the planning application and materials, plus possible community engagement and workshops.
The report says:
The artwork will reflect the unique character, history, and spirit of the town. It will be visually striking, engaging, and contribute positively to the local environment. The existing wall along the Station Parade car parking contributes negatively to the area. A public art project in a form of mural will transform this neglected space into a vibrant area, improving the overall visual appeal.
It adds murals can increase footfall by attracting visitors and encourage investment, as well as ‘reflect the community's history, culture, and values, fostering a sense of identity and pride among residents’.
North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee will decide on Thursday whether to fund the scheme.
It has £30,000 available to commit to two of three schemes.
Besides the mural, the other options are funding a seven-day land train trial in Knaresborough to help people get around easier, as reported here by the Stray Ferret, at a cost of £15,000, and gathering evidence to build a case for reducing the time the level crossing barrier is down at the Starbeck and Belmont crossings. This is estimated to cost between £7,500 and £35,000.
The council report, which was written by principal regeneration officer Marcin Dane and senior economic development officer Rebecca Micallef, says “there is likely to be other funding available” for the mural.
It therefore recommends councillors support spending the £30,000 on the Knaresborough and Starbeck initiatives.
Councillors will choose whether to accept this recommendation when they meet on Thursday.
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