Plans for a mural beneath a railway bridge in Worcester have sparked debate among local residents and heritage groups.

The project, approved by the city council, is set to be installed under the bridge near Foregate Street Station. It will mark the 200th anniversary of the modern railway and is intended to draw attention to the arches and the walkway connecting Foregate Street to the river.

While council officers and Severn Arts have expressed support for the scheme, the Conservation Advice Panel has raised concerns. They argue that the recently exposed brickwork should be preserved and potentially cleaned, rather than covered. Council officers have responded by confirming that the mural will be painted on a removable aluminium panel, not directly onto the brickwork, making it reversible in the future.

Planning officers have described the project as “a sensitive and reversible cultural intervention that celebrates Worcester's railway heritage by enhancing the public realm.”

Tewkesbury-based artist Sarah Brown, who recently completed a large mural in Redditch, has been commissioned to lead the project. She will collaborate with residents of Platform Housing and students from Heart of Worcestershire College, taking inspiration from vintage railway posters that were displayed under the bridge in the 1960s.

Councillor Alan Amos described the project as “excellent” and suggested that railway staff should be included in consultations as the mural develops.

The mural is intended to be a community-focused celebration of Worcester’s rail history, though the debate highlights the challenges of balancing contemporary public art with the preservation of historic structures.

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