Bedminster Green funds used to brighten up Bedminster train station underpass

Two new murals have been unveiled in the underpass at Bedminster train station, made possible in part thanks to the Community Infrastructure Levy funds secured from the developers of Bedminster Green.

The two works have been painted by Bristol-based artists Paul Monsters and Lucas Antics as part of a collaboration between Upfest and the Severnside Community Rail Partnership.

Alex Lucas of Lucas Antics said: “I’ve loved working in Bedminster for the last couple of weeks. The underpass is a space that people use every day so being able to brighten it up with a mural that reflects both the history and the future of this community is an incredible opportunity.”

Lucas added: “The brief called for an artwork that would create a welcoming and vibrant gateway to Bedminster, and we’ve included local wildlife, familiar landmarks and the spirit of togetherness in our designs. I hope our work adds a little bit of joy and inspiration to everyone who comes through here.”

CIL is a levy on new developments in the city, with 85% of CIL funds used to pay for strategic city-wide projects delivered by Bristol City Council, such as improving roads and schools. The other 15% of CIL funds are made available for local infrastructure improvements and community projects, with councillors deciding how the money is allocated. In this case, the local CIL allocation of £26,000 contributed significantly to the works to improve Bedminster station, which were further supported by funds from Great Western Railways.

The Bedminster Green Framework includes works to improve the connections between Bedminster Station and East Street and to enhance the station as a key connection between the residents of the East Bedminster Regeneration areas and the wider city.

Works include improvements to public spaces to help make journeys to and from the station safe and pleasant, and increased signage and wayfinding to make routes easier to follow.