'Colourful' Wareham railway station mural set to remain
The decision isn't welcomed by everyone though
A mural bearing the name 'Wareham' on the side of the pedestrian rail bridge at the town rail station is to remain – although it's not liked by everybody.
Network Rail has been granted retrospective listed building approval for the sign which has been in place since November 2021 on the grade 2 listed station site.
The business says the mural has been painted in the station’s historical colours of green and yellow 'to give a better presence to the station for visitors'.
Listed status
The rail operators did not realise at the time the mural was painted that the footbridge, although a much later addition to the station, was also included in the same listed status as the earlier main station buildings, requiring listed building consent from the council.
The station was built in 1864 and was listed for its historical and architectural interest in 1976. It is largely made of locally produced red brick.
Comments
Wareham Town Council did not object to the consent although remarked that the colours do not represent the southern region colours.
One public comment on the application called for a similar mural on the northern side of the bridge while another said it might have been better to have a sign which said 'Welcome to Wareham Station' adding:
“Why these colours? These are not authentic, and the overall overpowering design detracts from the ambience of the railway station. The mural is neither modern or historically correct, so fails on all counts….
“As a very regular user of South Western Railway and Wareham station I consider the mural on Wareham footbridge to be offensive and detrimental to the ambience of the station area and I would like to see it removed please.”
'Adds interest'
Despite the claims about the colours a Dorset Council report says that they are the colours of the Swanage branch line, adding:
“The mural adds interest through its association with historic railway artwork and is considered to visually enhances the setting of the listed Station.”