Bournemouth subway turned into art gallery

A subway in the Poole Hill area of Bournemouth has been cleaned up and turned into an art gallery featuring paintings by local children.

Children from St Michael’s School, Gingerbread Monkeys youth group (St Michael’s Church) and James Michael House painted pictures on the theme of Bournemouth, which are now on display in the subway in Suffolk Road.

The Poole Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team worked with Bournemouth Borough Council’s Street Cleansing Team and Suffolk Road and Norwich Avenue West Home Watch groups to clear the subway and grass verges of litter and remove graffiti from the subway walls.

The walls were then repainted and coated in anti-graffiti paint by the Council’s Housing Landlord Services. The children’s artwork was also given a coat of anti-graffiti paint.

PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) Emily Venton of the Poole Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team said, “Everyone involved in this project worked really well together and should be proud of their achievements.

“Since the clean-up, I have received feedback from residents who have told me that the area looks much better and feels safer.”

Those involved gathered in the new-look subway to admire their work and hear Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community, give a speech. He said, “This project has allowed young people to have a real impact on their surroundings. Subways can be very dark and gloomy spaces but this creative artwork has really brightened up the underpass, making it a much more welcoming, attractive place.”

The team will soon be asking local children to name the subway as part of a competition. They will also be given the opportunity to paint some more pictures to go on the walls in the near future.

Bournemouth Borough Council will be installing extra lighting in the subway in the coming weeks.