Gloucester mural on old Sainsbury’s and BHS ‘should be displayed in city centre’

There are calls to ensure the Gloucester murals on the former Sainsbury’s and those from the old British Home Stores are put on display in the city centre.

A scheme to demolish the former Sainsbury’s in Northgate Street and build 55 flats in its place has been submitted to Gloucester City Council.

And civic chiefs want to ensure the mural which is on the Hare Lane side of the building is saved and put on display. Developers say the mural will be saved and relocated.

But Councillor Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) wants assurances that it will not gather dust in storage for months or years on end.

He raised questions about it at the council meeting at North Warehouse on July 13.

And also asked what was happening with the concrete mural panels created by Joyce Pallot and Henry Collins which were removed and put into safe storage by the City Council when the former BHS store was enlarged.

“We do need to find a location for this mural. Preferably straight away rather than putting it into storage,” he said.

“Do you not think it would be a good idea, during the process of planning an application, for the authority to consult with others to find a place where they can put the, rather than put them into storage for many months or even years.”

Council leader Richard Cook (C, Kingsway) said he has already been talking to the authority’s director of place about the ones already in storage and the mural at the old Sainsbury’s.

“Currently we don’t know. I’ve suggested a few places myself, he has suggested a few places and we are looking at what we can do.

“It would make sense to do it without having to put it into storage but I don’t know if that’s possible. But if it is and we can do something with them I’m entirely happy that we do so.”

Cllr Hilton said the BHS ones show a retail environment that talks about the city centre. He said: “It needs to be put in the city centre. We need to work harder to find a way of putting them on display.”

Cllr Cook said they are extremely heavy and very difficult to move and need special structural materials so they remain sound. He said: “It is my hope we are able to display them. They are a part of the city of Gloucester and I hope we can display them.”

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

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